Instructors
Chief Instructor
Mitsu Nobusada-Flynn started Aikido in January of 1991 when Alameda Aikikai was opened by his father and founder Mike Flynn 7th dan, Shihan.
He has continued his rigorous training through the years with Flynn Shihan and his first successor Elmer Tancinco Sensei 6th dan, Shidoin who took over in 2005. Mitsu additionally spent weeks as a live-in student with Chiba Shihan the founder of Birankai to further his training.
He now holds the rank of 4th dan and is certified to teach by Birankai North America. In addition to this, he is a licensed Doctor of Physical Therapy who specializes in outpatient orthopedics and enjoys spending time with his wife Sarah Nobusada-Flynn who is a 2nd-degree black belt in Shito-Ryu Karate and their dog Katsu.
Assistant Instructor
Sebastien Chouillet began training at the Hong Kong Aikido Association in 2013, primarily under Edmund Wan 6th dan.
He relocated to Berkeley after earning his Shodan, and trained with Shibata Ichiro 8th dan, Shihan for seven years, then joined Alameda Aikikai in 2023 to further his training.
He holds rank of 3rd dan, and was awarded a Fukushidoin teaching certificate by Mike Flynn 7th dan, Shihan in 2024.
He is a wizard in SQL and Excel, and works in the healthcare industry with his sidekick dog Bear and his freeloading cat Squeak.