Birankai Certified Instructors
Deb Pastors is the chief instructor at Oak Park Aikikai. Pastors Sensei is a 5th dan, and certified to teach by Birankai North America. She began her training in 1992 at Oak Park Aikikai under the direction of Rich Roberts Sensei.
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Helping with instruction at Oak Park Aikikai is Mark Sharp, 3rd dan, also certified to teach by Birankai NA. Mark began training at Oak Park Aikikai in 1993 under the direction of Rich Roberts Sensei. Mark is the director of the Oak Park Aikikai Kids' Program.
Class Instructor
Liz Scholtens started training in 2006, and is currently ranked 1st dan. She is an assistant in the kids' class and teaches in the absence of Sharp Sensei.
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Oak Park Aikikai Founder
Oak Park Aikikai was founded by Rich Roberts Sensei, 6th dan, in 1989. Roberts Sensei trained initially with Richard Reed Sensei, and continued his training with Akira Tohei Shihan. He received his black belt rank at Hombu Dojo, the Aikido World Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan.