Amos lee Parker

Amos Lee Parker Shihan was born in 1936, in Houston TX. After graduating high school at the age of 18, he entered the United States Navy. This would eventually lead to his training in Yoshinkan Aikido in 1962, while stationed in Yokohama, Japan. Parker Shihan began his Aikido training under the guidance of Yukio Noguchi Sensei. Shortly after this training began, Noguchi Sensei left for Hawaii and Parker Shihan would then continue his training under Yoshinkan co-founder, Kiyoyuki Terada Hanshi.

Parker Shihan continued his training for the next 35 years under Terada Hanshi, attaining the rank of Hachidan (8th degree black belt) in Yoshinkan Aikido, which he received in 1986. He was awarded the title of Shihan, in 1994, by Terada Hanshi. In Dec 2009, Yasuhisa Shioda Kancho promoted Parker Sensei to 9th Dan. At that time, he was one of only 5 practitioners to be promoted to 9th Dan in the history of Yoshinkan Aikido. He still remains the only non-Japanese practitioner to receive this senior rank in Yoshinkan Aikido. 

While training in Yokohama, Parker Shihan established several dojos throughout the city and promoted many students to various dan levels. Upon retiring from the Navy, Parker Shihan had planned to return to the United States but before doing so, he wanted to make sure that he was teaching correct technique. He returned to his home dojo where he watched Terada Hanshi teaching class. Parker Shihan realised that he had not been doing the techniques as correctly as they could be done so he decided to stay in Yokohama, Japan for another 20 years, to further his understanding of his instructor’s technique.

Amos Lee Parker Shihan passed away on August 19, 2013  in his home town of Houston, Texas.