About the school and teacher
Manteca is a friendly city located at the crossroads of major highways in Northern California. A great location - an hour from the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento area . The chief instructor of Manteca Yoshinkan Aikido is Mr. Miguel Arredondo.
Mr. Arredondo is a graduate of Manteca High School (1969) and is a Vietnam Veteran having served with the 1st Calvary Division and the 173rd Airborne Brigade. Mr. Arredondo's martial arts training began in 1972 in Rembukai Karate in Stockton, California. Over the years, Miguel has studied Goju-ryu Karate under Larry Galano and Taekwondo under Joe Reyes. While living in San Diego, he earned a brown belt in TKD via the ATA and began his Aikido training in 1986 at Sunset Cliffs Aikikai.
Upon moving to Orange County in 1989, Mr. Arredondo began studying Yoshinkan Aikido. His three Yoshinkan Aikido instructors were Mr. Samuel Combes, 6th dan, from 1989-1990 and Mr. David Dye, 4th dan, from 1991-1992, Mr. Arredondo would continue his training under Mr. Geordan Reynolds, 5th dan, from 1993-1997, where he received the rank of 1st kyu. Over the course of his Yoshinkan Aikido training, Miguel attended many workshops which included both Aikikai and Yoshinkai senior instructors. From the Aikikai were Morihiro Saito Shihan and Mr. Frank Doran. From the Yoshinkai are Y. Shioda Kancho, Ando Shihan, Chino Shihan, Mori Sensei, Kevin Blok Sensei from Canada & Joe Thambu Sensei of Australia.
In 2003, after a break from training and upon moving back to Manteca, Mr. Arredondo picked up his training by traveling to Sacramento 2-3 times a month. It was here he met Mr. Steven Miranda of the Seikeikan dojo. From 2003-present,
Mr. Arredondo has travelled to Japan where he trained with Kiyoyuki Terada Hanshi, 10th dan, and Shioda Yasuhisa Soke. Mr. Arredondo has also attended several workshops with Amos Parker Shihan, 8th dan, throughout the US.
In 2005, upon meeting the requirements of the IYAF and honbu dojo, Mr. Arredondo received his 1st degree black belt (shodan) and in 2008, his 2nd degree black belt (nidan) in Yoshinkan Aikido. Mr. Arredondo is also a holder of a level 5 instructor certificate from Japan which enables him to promote and register his students to the rank of 1st kyu. The highest kyu rank before black belt.
Manteca Yoshinkan Aikido was established in 2005 by Mr. Miguel Arredondo. The dojo is registered under said name with the Aikido Yoshinkai Foundation, formerly the International Yoshinkai Aikido Federation. Mr. Arredondo continues his own development through periodic visits to the Seikeikan and by attending workshops throughout the US.
DOJO NAME:
平= Peace, 道= Way, 館= House or Place
