Our association with Jacques Payet Shihan began quite by chance: Sensei Sheppard, Sensei Chau and Sensei Gruninger were travelling and training in Japan and, as they passed through Kyoto, they decided to train at Payet Shihan’s Mugenjuko dojo.

They loved their time there, and the following years offered further opportunities to connect, either by visits to Aikido Del Mar in San Diego (Kevin Pickard Sensei) or attending numerous clinics, along with many other club members, offered by Payet Shihan as he visited North America.

A grand celebration of the friendship occurred in March of 2019 when more than 15 Aiki Budo Centre members traveled to Kyoto at the invitation of Payet Shihan to participate in the embu kai marking the 10th anniversary of Mugenjuku Aikido.

The two videos below offer some highlights from the journey: Jaimie Sensei’s demonstration at the embu kai and our club’s group demonstration at the same venue.