Ikeda joined a judo club in junior high school, and at the age of 23, he started to study karate and continued for 15 years. Although he was very successful in karate--he felt it just wasn't enough; it was missing "something". He kept searching for that "something" by trying different styles of karate and ended up with three different 2nd degree black belts in: Japanese Traditional Weapon, Gojuju, and Okinawain style karate. He always questioned the use of muscle and the stiff, unnatural forms.
He came across a Chinese book on Tai chi and he found his answer, he found that "something". His true passion.
He studied that book on Tai chi, not fully understanding all the Chinese characters but managed to grasp the theory and philosophy of Tai chi and the yin yang theory. He concentrated only on Tai chi and has since become a recognized Master of Chen style Tai chi.
Ikeda sensei visited Chen villege in December 1982. It was a big opportunity for him. He started to concentrate on Taichi and, he learned Chen Style from many masters of Chen family.
An opportunity arose for him to teach Tai chi in Japan when an education association opened a sports class in 1984. He concentrated on teaching the 24 forms and Chen style Tai chi. He believes Chen style is the root of tai chi by using the energy we naturally possess internally, which can be a potent form of energy. Sensei stresses to his students the importance of matching breathing with the movements and connecting the joints in turn, thus helping the energy flow more naturally.
Sensei says "Tai chi is insurance. In very dangerous times, it works. Tai chi is my life."
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