Jon Mamoru Takagi

Jon Mamoru was a pioneer of aikido in the United States. He founded Arizona Aikikai, the first aikido dojo in Arizona. A second-generation American of Japanese descent born in Hawaii, Takagi's career was unexpectedly cut short when he was killed by a drunk driver.

Personal life Jon Takagi was born in Honolulu, Hawaii to first generation Japanese immigrants from Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. Takagi was raised with his four siblings in the Kaimuki neighborhood of Honolulu, on the island of Oahu. In 1966, he left Hawaii and toured the mainland United States by motorcycle. He married and had two children. On a Sunday morning in 1984, while on a bicycle ride near South Mountain, Arizona, Takagi was killed by a drunk driver.

Aikido career Takagi began training in aikido in 1958 with Yukiso Yamamoto in Nuuanu, Hawaii. During his tour of the mainland United States, he trained with Yoshimitsu Yamada at the New York Aikikai. In 1968, Takagi settled in Phoenix, Arizona, and began teaching aikido at the Downtown Phoenix Y.M.C.A. there. He continued his aikido training with Fumio Toyoda in Chicago, Rod Kobayashi in California (who would later found Seidokan Aikido), and Koichi Tohei, head instructor of Aikido World Headquarters in Japan, receiving 4th dan from Tohei in 1977. Koichi Tohei demonstrating aikido with Jon Takagi at Arizona State University in 1974. With the support of Isao Takahashi and Chester Sasaki, Takagi founded Arizona Aikikai on First Street in downtown Phoenix. Through the 1970s and 1980s, Takagi taught regular aikido classes at Glendale Community College, Phoenix College, Arizona State University, and PREHAB of Arizona. Takagi was also a frequent instructor at aikido dojos in Tucson and Flagstaff, Arizona, and at seminars throughout the western United States.

Toyoda posthumously awarded Takagi 6th dan.