About Our Dojo
Plano Aikido Center is the only dojo in the Plano/Richardson/Garland/Allen area that is a member of the United States Aikido Federation, and through that membership affiliated with Hombu Dojo, in Japan.
Plano Aikido Center does not discriminate with respect to age, sex, race, religion, or national origin as they apply to admission, tuition, scholarship, promotion in rank, etc. We are a non-profit organization.
While maintaining the etiquette proper for practicing aikido, our dojo maintains a safe and relaxed club environment. O’Sensei said that “Training should always be conducted in a pleasant and joyful atmosphere”, and that is what we do!
Our Lead Instructor – Sidney Shiba
Sidney Shiba is the Aikido instructor at the Plano Aikido Center dojo and holds the rank of Rokudan (6th degree black belt) and Shidoin. Shiba sensei began practicing Aikido in 1984 as a student of Christian Tissier Shihan (8th Dan) while, at the same time, studying Software Engineering at Conservatoire National des Arts et Metiers in Paris.
Shiba sensei lived in France for 16 years after emigrating from Brazil at the age of 21. He became an american citizen along with his wife and three children, in October 2007. Mr. Shiba is employed as a Multimedia Solutions Architect at Alcatel-Lucent and, as an avocation, teaches oil painting, pastels and charcoal sketching. The Jo kata drawings on this web site are by Shiba sensei.
Shiba sensei studied Judo and Karate as part of his early martial arts training but found the non-confrontational philosophy of Aikido better suited for his personal development. He has adapted an eclectic approach to the discipline drawing from a wide range of Aikido styles now being practiced.
Reflecting on a maxim of the art, Shiba sensei states that, Aikido focuses on the harmonization of conflicting forces, employing the energy of an opponent to dissipate contention. Aikido training develops a less confrontational way of living; however, the perfection of this art is a life long endeavor.
