Robert Caron Sensei, Dojo Cho emeritus

Robert Caron Sensei, 5th dan, guided Zenshinkan Dojo as Dojo Cho from 2001 to 2016. He also served on the Board of Directors in a number of roles for 30 years. He was a direct student of Ed Haupt Sensei, Damon Apodaca Sensei, Fumio Toyoda Shihan, and Ed Germanov Shihan. He was the visionary and force of nature who stewarded and expanded the dojo after our founder’s death. This dojo would not still exist were it not for the many years of love and service given by Caron Sensei.

Caron Sensei began training in Aikido and Zen in 1995 here at Zenshinkan under our founder, Ed Haupt Sensei. As a teacher, Caron Sensei continued Haupt Sensei’s legacy, taking an integrated perspective on Aikido and Zen training as a tool for personal transformation. He emphasized the power of dynamic Aikido to bring about a greater sense of understanding of human behavior, thought, and action. He continued his zen training under Ginny Whitelaw Roshi, a master teacher in the Chozen-ji line of Rinzai Zen Buddhism and Chosei Zen priest.

“Our movement in Aikido and the manner in which we deal with an attack is a reflection of our total self as an emotional, cognitive, and physical being. The mind and body cannot be separated; therefore, we use our Aikido to cut straight into the essence of who we truly are in that moment.”