Larry Reynosa was born in Torrance, California & moved in & out of the United States in his youth. Some five years he spent in Japan which he feels was very influential upon him.
Sensei Larry Reynosa began his training in Aikido in early 1974 under the teaching of Nobuo Iseri Sensei.In 1977,at a winter Aikido seminar, Larry was strongly influenced by the guest instructor,Shihan Mitsunari Kanai.During this seminar,he also met Francis Takahashi Sensei and Pablo VasQuez Sensei, instructors from the Los Angeles area, both of whom were also to have a major influence on his Aikido career.Larry eventually received his first Black Belt under the guidance of Takahashi Sensei.
Since that time,Larry has himself served as Chief Instructor of three Dojos:ranging from space in a local community center,to a full time professional Dojo.In 1983,Larry was impressed by Shihan Steven Seagal,who recently to the United States from many years of study in Japan.This new influence motivated Larry to re-dedicate himself as a student after years of being a “teacher”.He began to travel,on a regular basis to the Ten Shin Dojo in Hollywood,California, to study under Seagal Sensei.Currently, he maintains commitment to his own Makoto Dojo in Ventura,California.The first time they saw Seagal Sensei on the mat they knew that they had found the path to the answers they sought.To his credit,the teacher,Larry Reynosa,then an Sandan(3rd degree Black Belt),determined right then & there to follow the teachings of Seagal Sensei.Reynosa Sensei realized that for him that meant starting anew in Aikido.It meant that he had to basically disregard his own experiences and even his own rank and start open and fresh in order to learn a new way.
In preparation for that first test Reynosa Sensei prepared himself through weight training exercise,diet and eventually knee surgery.
Failure was something we lived with in training.When we failed we got up and did it again and again.We were never quite sure when we did it correctly because praise was sparse and differcult to recognize.Only lately has Reynosa Sensei come to realize that this too was a great part of Seagal Senseis teaching.We learned that to fail was not bad,not awful or shameful.It was,in fact,a part of life and a part of learning.To stop doing.to give up,that was unacceptable.Quitting was the only true failure and in combat it meant death.Those who came to train and stopped trying because it was too differcult or too painful,failed.That is why we saw so many students come and then go through those years.
Reynosa Senseihas produced ten Seminars from Ventura,California to Ennis,Montana,back to Santa Barbara,California,then over to Paris,France.This activity was a direct precursor to todays Makoto Aikido Kyokai(formally the Ten Shin Aikido Association).These experiences have also led to Reynosa Senseis own career.He has taught seminars in many countries around the world,such as Latvia,Brazil,and Canada.He has been invited to teach in Germany,Mexico,Bulgaria,England,Columbia and others. “I teach my own way,but with the influence of Seagal’s teaching which still inspire me to go forward.I will always be inspired by what I have been privledged to learn with Seagal Sensei as my teacher.I will always respect him as one of my great teachers and I still love him for what he shared with me over the past 18 plus years.”
Sensei Larry Reynosa began his training in Aikido in early 1974 under the teaching of Nobuo Iseri Sensei.In 1977,at a winter Aikido seminar, Larry was strongly influenced by the guest instructor,Shihan Mitsunari Kanai.During this seminar,he also met Francis Takahashi Sensei and Pablo VasQuez Sensei, instructors from the Los Angeles area, both of whom were also to have a major influence on his Aikido career.Larry eventually received his first Black Belt under the guidance of Takahashi Sensei.
Since that time,Larry has himself served as Chief Instructor of three Dojos:ranging from space in a local community center,to a full time professional Dojo.In 1983,Larry was impressed by Shihan Steven Seagal,who recently to the United States from many years of study in Japan.This new influence motivated Larry to re-dedicate himself as a student after years of being a “teacher”.He began to travel,on a regular basis to the Ten Shin Dojo in Hollywood,California, to study under Seagal Sensei.Currently, he maintains commitment to his own Makoto Dojo in Ventura,California.The first time they saw Seagal Sensei on the mat they knew that they had found the path to the answers they sought.To his credit,the teacher,Larry Reynosa,then an Sandan(3rd degree Black Belt),determined right then & there to follow the teachings of Seagal Sensei.Reynosa Sensei realized that for him that meant starting anew in Aikido.It meant that he had to basically disregard his own experiences and even his own rank and start open and fresh in order to learn a new way.
In preparation for that first test Reynosa Sensei prepared himself through weight training exercise,diet and eventually knee surgery.
Failure was something we lived with in training.When we failed we got up and did it again and again.We were never quite sure when we did it correctly because praise was sparse and differcult to recognize.Only lately has Reynosa Sensei come to realize that this too was a great part of Seagal Senseis teaching.We learned that to fail was not bad,not awful or shameful.It was,in fact,a part of life and a part of learning.To stop doing.to give up,that was unacceptable.Quitting was the only true failure and in combat it meant death.Those who came to train and stopped trying because it was too differcult or too painful,failed.That is why we saw so many students come and then go through those years.
Reynosa Senseihas produced ten Seminars from Ventura,California to Ennis,Montana,back to Santa Barbara,California,then over to Paris,France.This activity was a direct precursor to todays Makoto Aikido Kyokai(formally the Ten Shin Aikido Association).These experiences have also led to Reynosa Senseis own career.He has taught seminars in many countries around the world,such as Latvia,Brazil,and Canada.He has been invited to teach in Germany,Mexico,Bulgaria,England,Columbia and others. “I teach my own way,but with the influence of Seagal’s teaching which still inspire me to go forward.I will always be inspired by what I have been privledged to learn with Seagal Sensei as my teacher.I will always respect him as one of my great teachers and I still love him for what he shared with me over the past 18 plus years.”
On the Kagamibiraki Day of this year (January 14th 2007), the International Department-Hombu Dojo of the Aikido World Headquarters informed Reynosa Sensei that he had been promoted to Rokudan.
