Chief Instructor : Lou Decena Sensei
West County Aikido has classes in San Pablo and Pinole for children and adults. Visitors are welcomed during scheduled class times. More information can be found at West County's Home Page:
West County Aikido Website
Decena Sensei's Biography
Lou Decena Sensei is the chief instructor of West County Aikido. He was first introduced to Aikido in 1963 when he took some classes from Yamada Sensei while stationed in Japan. He was also fortunate enough to be instructed by O Sensei himself at Hombu Dojo. Kobayashi Sensei, Kanai Sensei, and Imaizumi Sensei were also among his teachers. After his military service, he returned to the States and began training with Shiohira Sensei in 1989. It was under Shiohira Sensei's instruction that he began teaching Aikido. He founded Pinole Aikido in 1985, which became West County Aikido after moving to El Sobrante in 2000. He has trained many aikidoka; some from age five all the way up to the rank of shodan (first degree black belt).