Our condolences to Jack Arnold and the members of Aikido Daiwa on the loss of Toma Rosenzweig, who died this week at age 73. He had practiced Aikido for 40 years and was a stalwart Birankai member in Southern California.
To me, Toma was in many was a model sempai – devoted to the art of Aikido and his teacher, Jack Arnold. He was also a help to those of us coming up as kenshusei, always offering a word of support or a kind gesture. I’ll never forget spending a cold night on the mat at Daiwa in advance of a seminar to wake up to a warm box of donuts thanks to Toma – an unexpected and much appreciated gift.
Toma will be greatly missed.
L. Klein
Toma will be sorely missed by all. He was transformed by aikido and shared that transformation with many of us. His kindness, graciousness and commitment was unending. A warrior to the end, our community was stronger and better because of Toma.
The world is a poorer place now. Toma was a good man, both on and off the mat.
Are there services planned?
I knew Toma for many years. He was the “old guy”. He trained with me in Modern Arnis, Combat Arnis and my Modular Blade systems.It was always an honor to be with Toma, he trained with his heart, lead with his heart and let his soul guide him. He was an instructor in my systems and even after his heart attack and coma of a few years ago he came back to train and continue the arts: he was a warrior to the end. I met several good people through Toma and they took care of him during his heart attack and coma: I respect John and Tommy for doing that and keeping me informed….
Toma always was on the look out for those he felt did injustice to others in the arts..he was a good man RIP Toma..
My condolence to his family friends and students may he rest in peace. Regards shidoshi Alfred Reid dublin ireland
Though I don’t recall ever meeting Toma in person, we had some warm exchanges online over the past decade or so, everything from martial arts to computer maintenance. I regularly sent him news bits I thought he might find interesting, so it caught me by surprise when I heard this afternoon of his passing. RIP to one of the true gentlemen in the arts.
Goodbye old friend.Toma my pal for some three decades. My colleague in self defense. I’m so sorry to see you go. You were a good man, a kind man, a devoted martial artist, and a loyal friend. Fare thee well. Love. Rest in peace dear soul.
I knew Toma from our days at the L.A. Aikaiki. i was a student there from ’78 thru ’83. In a true mystical style that he would appreciate , he surfaced in my memories a few days ago. I googled his name and discovered his recent passing. He was a good man and he loved Aikido. Rest in peace my friend.
I first met Toma many years ago at Camp Budoshin. He befriended me, encouraged me, and provided encouragement in my studies of Koshi-no-Bo and Cane. I always looked forward to seeing him at camp and our discussions. I, and several of my students that knew him, will miss him. KV Dojo in Lake Isabella sends our condolences to Toma’s family, friends and students.
Toma and I have been friends for over forty years. We climbed many, many of the peaks in the Sierra, throughout Calif. and Ariz. ranges. We biked the length and breath of southern Calif., especially the coastal climes.
As Toma, for years, biked almost everywhere from his home base: I recall driving him on a particularly rainy Saturday to his very first L.A. Aikaiki work out. When coming to pick him up, I was amazed at his determination, even in light of being tossed around like a sack of Idaho spuds. A few short weeks later I picked him up from another session, and was again amazed…amazed that the sack of Idaho spuds, had transformed into a flowing reed over a still pond. Friend, Toma, never ceased to inspire me.
I miss him dearly. Travel in light my good friend, phil
Thank You.
I haven’t seen Toma since leaving the company we worked at together, Joe To Go, in 2007. I saw an aikido reference last night on television and thought of him. Toma introduced me to the Sierra Club evening hikes in Griffith Park for which I am grateful, and was always a fine man to work with. My greatest memory of him is that he had found his rightful place in the universe and was quite comfortable there, never resenting what he didn’t have nor wanting for more. That was his greatest gift to me, and may be the greatest I will ever receive.