{"id":3005,"date":"2025-10-17T20:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-18T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/biran.birankai.org\/?p=3005"},"modified":"2025-10-17T23:42:18","modified_gmt":"2025-10-18T03:42:18","slug":"gloria-nomura-shihan-a-life-shaped-by-the-art","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/biran.birankai.org\/?p=3005","title":{"rendered":"Gloria Nomura, Shihan: A Life Shaped by the Art"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n\n

Rob Schenk and Thierry Diagana, Aikido Institute of San Francisco
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gloria E. Nomura didn\u2019t set out to become one of the most respected martial artists in North America. In fact, she didn\u2019t start training until after the age of 40. But what began as curiosity became a lifelong practice, and what started at a UCLA Aikido club turned into a decades-long journey of teaching, traveling, and transmitting the values of an art that shaped her life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her first encounter with Aikido was through a friend. The movements caught her eye\u2014fluid, precise, not about punching or domination. \u201cThis,\u201d she thought, \u201cI want to do.\u201d At the time, she was the only woman in the dojo. That didn\u2019t matter. She stayed. She trained. And she found something that would define the next chapters of her life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What pushed her deeper was seeing Chiba Sensei. \u201cThe moment he walked on the mat, I said to myself, this is a true martial artist. This is who I want to follow.\u201d That impression stayed with her. It wasn\u2019t about charisma or showmanship. It was presence. Discipline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eventually, Nomura Sensei opened her own dojo in Daly City. No students came at first. But she showed up, day after day and the students found their way. She built something from the ground up, not for recognition, but because it was worth doing. That dojo became a community. A place where Aikido could take root, grow, and evolve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her teaching style has shifted over the years. At first, she felt she had to show power, prove herself. But time and experience changed that. She began to refine, strip away the unnecessary. \u201cWith the right technique,\u201d she said, \u201cyou don\u2019t need to force anything. You can take control without hurting anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She also found a deep connection to Iaido\u2014the Japanese sword art. It offered something different, but related. \u201cIaido is solitary. You and the sword. No distractions. No faking it. You have to focus. It\u2019s meditative. Demanding. Beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To Nomura Sensei, the sword and Aikido share a common purpose: developing the self. \u201cYou\u2019re not going to win against a gun or a nuclear weapon. That\u2019s not the point. It\u2019s about building who you are. Physically. Mentally. Spiritually.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Nomura Shihan, Iaido demonstration, Aikido of West Los Angeles Dojo, early 1990s.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

She taught internationally in Latin America, Siberia, and Europe. Often the only woman in the dojo. But she didn\u2019t go to prove anything. She went because she was invited. And she believed in sharing the art with anyone who wanted to learn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nomura Sensei was the first woman in North America to be promoted to Shihan. It was a milestone, but not one she would indulge in. \u201cI just trained,\u201d she said. \u201cI didn\u2019t think about being a woman. I thought about doing the art.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A mother of four, a PharmD, a lifelong teacher, and a global ambassador for Aikido, Nomura Sensei lives the balance she taught. Not perfectly. Not easily. But honestly. \u201cIf you love something, don\u2019t let anyone stop you. It\u2019s your life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her Aikido isn\u2019t loud. It isn\u2019t flashy. It doesn\u2019t need to be. It is steady. Grounded. Clear. And it left a mark on everyone who trained with her. She is as demanding to her students as she is to herself. \u201cDon\u2019t be lazy. Pick up that slack\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her legacy is not just in the photos or the titles. It\u2019s in how her students move. In how they teach. In how they carry themselves. That\u2019s what survives. And that\u2019s what matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What follows is an intimate conversation with a trailblazer, the first woman to be promoted to Shihan in North America, whose words offer wise guidance for students, teachers, and future generations alike. The interview was held in San Francisco, January 2025. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I. First Encounters: Falling in Love with Aikido<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sensei, how did you first hear about Aikido?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI first heard about Aikido from a friend who suggested I check it out. I was working at UCLA at the time, and there happened to be a club there. The first class I saw, I just loved it. I thought, \u2018This is I want to do.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What was it that stood out to you?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe atmosphere. The people were enjoying their training. I remember the movements; they were beautiful. It wasn\u2019t like punching or fighting. It felt effective, but not violent. That drew me in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you remember who your first teacher was?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe first Aikidoist I saw was Saotome Sensei. He gave a demonstration off-campus, and he really impressed me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Were there many women training at that time?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNone. I was the only female in the class. But I didn\u2019t let it bother me. I just thought, \u2018I can do this.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

II. Finding Her Path: The Influence of Chiba Sensei<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You mentioned Chiba Sensei made a strong impression on you. Was that a turning point in your training?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes. The first time I saw him walk onto the mat, seeing just the way he moved, I knew. I thought, \u2018This is a true martial artist. This is who I want to follow.\u2019 It wasn\u2019t even the techniques. It was his presence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It made me realize I wanted something beyond just club practice. That\u2019s when I started to take it more seriously. Pablo Vazquez and I started a dojo in West Los Angeles where we cultivated students, hosted many seminars over the years, including Chiba Sensei, Mitsuzuka Sensei, Shibata Sensei and others.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

III. Becoming a Teacher: Pioneering in Daly City and Beyond<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When did you start your own dojo?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEventually I purchased a property in Daly City, right on Mission Street around 1998 or so. I opened a dojo there. I wanted to move back to Northern California where I grew up and be closer to my family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At first there were no students, but it filled up in time. I remember I would just practice Iaido by myself at the beginning and eventually the dojo grew.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What was your proudest moment in Aikido?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOpening the dojo. Teaching before was meaningful, but having your own dojo brings a deeper responsibility. You have more influence. That\u2019s what made it special.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And then you were promoted to Shihan. That must\u2019ve been significant.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was an honor. Chiba Sensei believed in me. And I\u2019m small \u2014 only four foot ten. But he had confidence in me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

IV. The Art of Adaptation: Aikido and Aging<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ve evolved your Aikido style over the years \u2014 what changed?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn the beginning, I felt I had to prove myself. I tried to show more power than I needed to. But over time, I realized it\u2019s all about technique. With the right technique, you don\u2019t have to use much force and you don\u2019t have to hurt anyone.\u201d
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Aikido in motion: Nomura Sensei executing a throw with clarity and precision.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How has Aikido helped you as you\u2019ve aged?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes. It\u2019s helped my balance. If I trip, I recover quickly. Mentally, I\u2019m more alert. I\u2019m more aware of my surroundings. I think that\u2019s something Aikido teaches you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

V. Teaching with Purpose: Wisdom for Future Generations<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What advice would you give to Aikido teachers today?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou have to enjoy Aikido. And when you teach, your goal should be to pass on the art, not to show off. Pass it down to students who can pass it to their students. That\u2019s how Aikido survives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What would you say to someone starting Aikido later in life?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t be afraid. I started at 40 years of age. I did it to keep physically active and I didn\u2019t want to be afraid of anything. That\u2019s what Aikido gave me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

VI. A Global Voice: Spreading Aikido Across Cultures<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ve taught all over the world \u2014 what was that like?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was wonderful. Latin America, Greece, Spain, Siberia. People were so respectful. Sometimes it was mostly men training, but they welcomed me. In some places, I hoped I could encourage women too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What made you say yes to those invitations?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI like to explore. I don\u2019t like to stay stuck in one place. If someone invites me, I go. That\u2019s just who I am.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

VII. Legacy and the Road Ahead<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What should future generations remember about Aikido?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat it\u2019s about character. Aikido shows a better way to handle conflict, not just on the mat, but in life. Don\u2019t let it become about hurting. It\u2019s about restraint, control, and peace.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any final thoughts?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf you love something, don\u2019t let anyone stop you. It\u2019s your life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Call-to-Action (for the newsletter readers):<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To honor Nomura Shihan\u2019s legacy, we invite dojos across the organization to reflect on her teachings, share this interview with students, and commit to preserving the spirit of Aikido as a lifelong journey of character, not just techniques.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The way of the sword: presence, posture, peace.<\/em>
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Rob Schenk and Thierry Diagana, Aikido Institute of San Francisco Gloria E. Nomura didn\u2019t set out to become one of the most respected martial artists in North America. In fact, she didn\u2019t start training until after the age of 40. But what began as curiosity became a lifelong practice, and what started at a UCLA … <\/p>\n

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