Kenshinyokan Dojo

The Kenshinyokan or “House of devotion to the willow” is located in the private dojo of John Lovato, in Lakewood, California. John was a long time student of Yanagi ryu and had previously studied Tendo ryu Naginata under Tanaka Miyako and Iwama ryu Aikido under Patricia Hendricks. John began studying Takamura ha Shindo Yoshin ryu in 2008 and took keppan February 2009.

Classes at the Kenyoshinkan in Takamura ha Shindo Yoshin ryu are led by Richard Elias, a keppan student since 2000 he was recently awarded Shoden Menkyo by Toby Threadgill sensei. Richard has studied various martial arts since the age of twelve. He became a student of Iwama ryu Aikido under Patricia Hendricks in 1989 (where he met up with John Lovato) and spent one and a half of his five years training with her as an Uchideshi or live-in student. After waiting four years to be accepted as a student he began training in Yanagi ryu in 1995. He left the Yanagi dojo in 2003 and now focuses on Takamura ha Shindo Yoshin ryu.

Over the years Richard has been allowed the privilege to travel with his teachers and represent the arts he’s studied in various capacities including demonstrations, seminars and videos. He has also written the forward to “The Book of Martial Power” by Steven Pearlman, which provides great detail into principles of martial arts applicable to all systems.

Persons interested in Takamura ha Shindo Yoshin ryu training at the Kenshinyokan dojo can contact Richard Elias at: shidare@hotmail.com