HEAD INSTRUCTOR

Sensei Derek Baure

Sensei Derek Baure has been training in martial arts for over a decade. He has a black belts in Danzan Ryu Jujitsu and Aikido. He started both martial arts in 2003 under the guidance of Sensei Carol Harris at Diablo Valley College. Sensei Carol Harris was his main instructor and mentor over his many years of training.

Sensei Derek Baure began his training in Jujitsu, because of his history in high school wrestling. He discovered his interest and enjoyment of Jujitsu and expanded his interests in other Marial Arts. Aikido would be Derek Baure’s next study. In his years of training Jujitsu he has received guidance and training from other instructors: Sensei Chris Peterson of Jujitsu America, Sensei Irving Lee of Zen Budokai Jujitsu, and Professor Lee Eichelberger of Small Circle Jujitsu. 

Derek Baure’s background of Aikido is a combined influence of Aikikai and Iwama style. Even though most of his instruction for Aikido came from Sensei Carol Harris, he has also had opportunities to train with the great Sensei Yoshimitsu Yamada, Chief Instructor of Aikikai, along with Sensei Hitohiro Saito, previous Chief instructor of Iwama Aikido and now founder of Iwama Shin-Shin Aiki Shuren-kai. It is because of this background that Sensei Derek Baure continues to train in no singular style of Aikido and continues to spread the spirit of Aikido through his students, training and studies.

Since founding Touyou No Chie he has become Sports Jujitsu National Black Belt 2016 Champion, Jujitsu Americia 2017 Instructor of the Year, Kilohana Martial Arts Organization 2017 Instructor of the Year, member of 2019 Team USA for the Jujitsu World Games, and trained multiple champions in his dojo.

Danzan Ryu Jujitsu

Danzan Ryu Jujitsu originated 1929 in Hawaii from Professor Henry Seishiro Okazaki. Professor Okazaki brought together multiple martial arts that he learned from his two decades of travel and dedication to martial arts. Some of the martial arts include Namba-Yoshin-Ryu, Kodokan Judo, Iwaga-Ryu, Lua, western boxing, and wrestling. In the year 1948, Professor Wally Jay, one of Okazaki’s top students, received his certificate of mastery in Danzan Ryu Jujitsu and Restorative massage. In 1950, Wally Jay moved to Alameda and opened up Island Judo Jujitsu club. Since then, Wally Jay has trained with some of the best martial artist of his time such as Willy Cahill, Dan Inosanto and Bruce Lee. Wally Jay achieved many feats some of which are: Northern Judo Coach of the year, Black Belt Magazine’s Hall of Fame, and named one of the 100 most influential martial artist of all time. 
However, some of Wally Jay’s greatest achievements were not his own, but by the students he taught, influenced and guided. One of his top students was Sensei Carol Harris. Sensei Carol Harris received her 5th degree black belt under Wally Jay’s guidance along with the achievement of Instructor of the Year and Black Belt Hall of Fame from Jujitsu America.

Here is a sample of Sensei Derek Baure applying what he has learned over the years as he wins his match in a Sports Jujitsu Competition.

History of Aikido

Aikido was created in Japan in 1942 by Morihei Ueshiba (more commonly refereed to as O sensei or “Great Teacher” in Japanese). O sensei studied  Daitō-ryū aiki-jūjutsu under Takeda Sōkaku and several other styles including judo with Kiyoichi Takagi. Through his many years and martial arts that he trained, O sensei became a master swordsman and staff practitioner. So O sensei was known as a weapons expert, where he implemented weapons training into the development of Aikido. He would use the Jo (wooden staff) and Bokken (wooden sword) with concepts of techniques applicable for both weapon or open hand training.
In the 1950’s and for the next several decades O sensei’s students would spread Aikido over the world, beginning with France and expanding to the United States, Britain, Germany and Italy. Several of O sensei’s students would go on to develop their own styles of Aikido including Iwama Style Aikido created by O sensei’s long term student Morihiro Saito and The Aikikai Foundation led by Moriteru Ueshiba. O sensei’s development of Aikido was officially recognized by the Emperor of Japan for its value of maintaining and preserving Japanese culture. He was awarded with the Medal of Honor, the Order of the Rising Sun, and the Order of the Sacred Treasure for his work.
One of the most influential teachers in spreading Aikido in the United States has been Sensei Yoshimitsu Yamada. Sensei Yamada trained directly with O sensei and came to the US where he began teaching at the New York Aikikai School. From there he helped to spread the art of Aikido up and down the eastern seaboard and eventually across the US.

Here is a sample of Sensei Derek's Aikido ability.  He shared a diverse side of his aikido knowledge and techniques.  From open hand to weapon defense and even brought out his iaito katana to show sword drawing techniques.