UNC-CH Aikido Club

Sensei Erik Townsend started learning Aikido at Elon University in 1989. He assisted his instructor, Jason Koch, in starting up an Aikido Club at Elon. In 1992 Erik graduated but returned a year later and lived outside of Elon, in Burlington NC, and continued to study under Koch Sensei. After studying and being influenced by Nana-Dan, Yoji Kondo of Columbia, MD and San-Dan, Frank Farris of Baltimore, MD he earned his Shodan in 1995.

In 1996 he took part in the National Aikido Tournament held in Baltimore, Maryland. In team randori, he and his team placed 3rd in the nation. Shortly after that Erik started his first school in downtown Raleigh, NC. Eventually this moved to the Green Road Community Center of Raleigh. He taught there until 2003. In the fall of 2004 he and his head student, Shodan John Lubbers, started an Aikido Club at the University Of North Carolina Of Chapel Hill, and Koch Sensei took over the Raleigh school.

Townsend Sensei has traveled to Japan and in 1999 received instruction from Tetsuro Nariyama, at his school in Osaka, Japan. In 2004, Fumiaki Shishida held a two day seminar in the cities of Columbia and Baltimore, MD. Erik was greatly honored when selected as the Uke by Fumiaki Shishida. (http://www.f.waseda.jp/shishida/index-English.html)

Townsend Sensei has also trained in other martial arts such as kendo, wrestling, judo and karate. He is currently practicing Gracie Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and received his Blue Belt promotion from Royce Gracie in December of 2006. His current instructors through Team-ROC have been Jake Whitfield and Aitor “Spencer” Canup. He has also been instructed by Rodrigo Gracie and David Camarillo.

Sensei Erik Townsend’s current J.A.A. rank is San-Dan, or 3rd degree black belt. His local affiliation is with Aikido America International/Nihon Aikido Kyokai (Japan Aikido Association).