Ed Haupt Sensei, Founder of Zenshinkan Dojo
Edward Haupt Sensei, the founder of Zenshinkan Dojo, began his Aikido training in 1971 under Hideki Shiohira Shihan, a direct student of Koichi Tohei Shihan. While in California, he earned his nidan in Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido, as well as a doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the California Professional School of Psychology. In 1975, Haupt Sensei met Fumio Toyoda Shihan in San Francisco, who would later become his long-time teacher and the inspiration for the creation of Zenshinkan Dojo. Haupt Sensei also became a zen student of Tanouye Rotaishi of the Daihonzan Chosen-ji temple in Hawai’i. His practice in the Rinzai tradition of zen meditation was later continued under the direction of Hosokawa Roshi.
In 1989, Haupt Sensei bought a farm in Rutland, MA, and named it Setsudo Farm. Setsudo means “to pass on the Way of the Universe.” There he established a branch of the International Zen Dojo Sogenkai under the direction of Fumio Toyoda Shihan, his Aikido and Zen teacher. This was the founding of Zenshinkan Dojo. For nearly 10 years, Setsudo Farm was a spiritual sanctuary and training center for budo and zen. During that time, Haupt Sensei earned 4th dan and became a Teaching Committee Member of the Aikido Association of America. Haupt Sensei’s fierce intensity challenged his students to push beyond their perceived boundaries and to consider every part of their lives the foundation of their training. He asked his students to live with intention, to be present in all that they do. Through demanding physical and spiritual training, by his example and love, he helped his students walk the path of shugyo.
Haupt Sensei died on June 28th, 1999.
