Jonathan Knipping surveyed Eastern and Western philosophy and religious studies while earning his B.A. from Grinnell College. His life-long interest in art, philosophy and spirituality led him to begin the study of Aikido in 1999, taiji in 2001, Yoga in 2002, Meridian Touch™ in 2005.
Jonathan now holds the rank of sandan (third degree black belt) in Aikido from Aikikai Aikido World Headquarters in Japan, which he earned in October of 2009. He began his study of Aikido under the late Fumio Toyoda Shihan, at the Aikido Association of America headquarters, Tenshinkan dojo, in Chicago. Since Toyoda Sensei's passing in 2001, Jonathan has trained under former AAA Chief Instructor and 6th degree black belt Andrew Sato Sensei, who trained under Toyoda Shihan starting in 1978. In 2005, Sato Sensei left the AAA to form his own organization, the Aikido World Alliance, in order to further improve his own understanding of Aikido. Jonathan is a founding member of the AWA, dojo cho of Enso Aikido dojo at Enso Yoga and Martial Arts in downtown Chicago, and a regular instructor at AWA headquarters, Kiku Matsu Dojo, in Lincoln Square, where he continues to train under Sato Sensei.
Jonathan earned his certification as a Yoga Siromani (teacher of Yoga) in 2006 from the international Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers, founded by Swami Vishnu-devananda in 1961, in honor of his teacher, H.H. Swami Sivanada. Recognized as one of the most traditional styles of Yoga taught in the West, the Sivananda Teacher Training Course was the first Yoga teacher training established in the North America, and now has nearly 20,000 graduates worldwide.
Seeking to deepen and broaden his understanding of health, wellness, fitness, and physical spirituality by exploring Oriental medicine and traditional Asian bodywork philosophy and protocols, Jonathan became one of the first to complete the instructor certification program designed and taught by Meridian Touch™ creator Darryl Akin-Afam in 2006.
The next step along his path toward the integration of ancient wisdom and modern science led Jonathan to enter the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the University of Illinois at Chicago in the fall of 2009. He is expected to graduate in May of 2012.
Instructor Certifications
