Kodokan literally means Way of Light Hall. The dojo was formally opened by Shirata Rinjiro sensei in 1992. The Kodokan has had several forms over the years and is currently a private dojo housing the Kodokan Aikido Honbu and the Portland Takamura ha Shindo Yoshin ryu Dojo.

The Portland Dojo currently has three Shindo Yoshin kai members:
Allen Beebe and Douglas Walker shoden menkyo, and Tom Wharton

The Portland Dojo supports a study group at the Sugiyama Dojo in Bandon on
the South Coast of Oregon.

The Bandon Study group currently has two members:
Adam Coleman and Jeff Combs

The Portland TSYR Dojo and the Bandon Study Group may be contacted at syr.pdx@comcast.net
Further information on the web at http://budo-arts.nl/kodokan/index.php

Allen Beebe's Brief Budo Biography

I practiced Karate recreationally from 1972.
In 1981 I began studying Ki no Kenkyukai Aikido under Dwight Onchi an uchi deshi of Tohei Koichi and Judoka of the locally famous Onchi Judo family.
In 1986 I traveled to Japan for the first time and began training at Aikido dojos in the Sendai area before finally settling in under Hanzawa Yoshimi training in the Iwama style. Before I returned to America, Nakajima Masanori sensei introduced me first to Shirata Rinjiro sensei’s Aikido waza and next to Shirata Rinjiro himself. From that time on I continued to study with Shirata sensei and his students until his death.
In 1992, Shirata sensei supported the opening of the Kodokan by sending a Gaku, Kakejiku poem about the Kodokan, and a dojo opening letter with Prof. John Stevens. Unfortunately, Shirata sensei was too ill to personally attend. Shirata sensei passed away in 1993.
I was first introduced to Tobin Threadgill in 2001 at a Jon Bluming Seminar in Seattle and began training with him at a 2003 SYK seminar arranged by Douglas Walker. In 2004 I took keppan and became a member of the Shinyokai. I received shoden menkyo in 2007.

Douglas Walker’s Brief Budo Biography

I began training in Aikido at Oberlin College in 1984 under Frank Hreha sensei of the ASU.
After college I took a hiatus of approximately 10 years before resuming training with Ed DiMarco sensei USAF in Portland, Oregon.
I joined the Kodokan to train with Allen Beebe sensei in 2003.
I first met Toby Threadgill sensei in 1999. He was kind enough to show me some Shindo Yoshin ryu after a seminar with Jon Bluming sensei in 2001.
In 2003 I organized a seminar in Portland with Threadgill sensei and we formed a study group at the Kodokan later that year.
I formally joined the Shinyokai in 2004 and received shoden menkyo in 2007.