Red Sun Aikido • Chicopee, MA • tel 413-594-4300

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Philip Traunstein currently holds the rank of Godan, Shidoin from Birankai International under the direction of T.K. Chiba, Shihan.

Traunstein Sensei began his training Aikido in 1979 under Sensei's Paul Sylvain 6th Dan (1951-1996) & Lorraine DiAnne 6th Dan at Amherst Aikikai. In 1986 Traunstein Sensei moved to California and continued his training at Berkeley Aikikai under DiAnne Sensei. He was a founding member of Aikido of Springfield 1988 ­ 1997.

Traunstein Sensei was awarded Fukushidion (certified teacher) by T.K. Chiba, Shihan, while teaching under the guidence of Lorraine DiAnne Sensei at Aikido of Springfield in 1993 . Red Sun Aikido opened its doors with Traunstein Sensei as the schools chief instructor in August of 1997 . Traunstein Sensei was awarded 5th Dan (5th degree black belt) in January 2004 & in February of 2001 he was awarded Shidoin (certified senior teacher) by the then United States Aikido Federation Western Region Teaching Committee. The dojos of United States Aikido Federation Western Region dissolved their affilliation with the USAF in 2006 and remaining part of the Birankai International under the guidence and direction of T.K. Chiba, Shihan.
Traunstein Sensei also holds a 2nd Dan in Muso Shinden Ryu Iaido, the Art of the Japanese sword.