Instructors
Giovanni Gerbi

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Giovanni Gerbi Sensei was born in Villafranca d'Asti in Italy on the 6th of April 1945. He started his Aikido education in 1967 at the Doyu Kai Dojo in Torino, Italy under the direction of Gramendola Sensei.

In 1971 he is ranked shodan (first dan), and in 1972 he starts teaching at the Kanku Dai dojo in Torino, Italy where he remains as head instructor for 17 years. In 1974 he is ranked nidan (second dan) and in the same year he is asked to organize and direct the first italian national seminar of Aikido in Padova.

In these years Gerbi Sensei attends several international seminars and studies under the supervision of several teachers such as Andrè Noquiet, Kawamukai, Kobajashi, Noro and Filippini.In 1979 he is ranked sandan (third dan) and in 1984 he is ranked yondan (fourth dan).

In 1986 he first meets Tomita Takegi sense, that at that time served as Italian head instructor. Gerbi Sensei attended all Tomita Sensei's seminars from 1986 till 1991.

In 1989, after 17 years of teaching at the Kanku Dai dojo, he moves back to the Doyu Kai dojo where he remains till 1997 when he moves at the Reale Ginnastica Torino where he is currently head instructor and teaches on a regular base.

In 1990 Gerbi Sensei meets Morihiro Saito Sensei for the first time. From this year he diligently follows the teaching of the Iwama School. In August 2003 he first visits Iwama to study in O'Sensei's dojo under Hitohiro Saito Sensei, son of the late Morihiro Saito. Since his initial stay in 2003, he has travelled to the headquarter dojo in Iwama, Japan, every years to ensure consistency of technical and spiritual direction and development.

In 2007 during the celebration of his 40 years of Aikido he is ranked godan (fifth dan) Shin Shin Aikido by Hitohiro Saito Sensei.
 
Stefano Di Carlo
dicarloStefano Di Carlo was born in Torino on the 13th of October 1974. He is ranked 4th dan in Shin Shin Aikido, a practice he began in 1985 when he was 11 years old.

In 1990 he first meets the late Morihiro Saito Sensei. He was so impressed by the technique and charisma of this teacher that from this time he starts to diligently follow his teaching attending several seminars in Europe.

Since his initial stay of 1 month in 1995, he has travelled to the headquarters dojo in Iwama, Japan, every year, studying as uchi deshi (internal student) under the direction of Morihiro Saito Sensei first and Hitohiro Saito Sensei later, to ensure consistency of technical and spiritual direction and development.

He received his shodan (first dan) and nidan (second dan) both in taijutsu (open hand techniques), and buikiwaza (weapon techniques) in Iwama from Morihiro Saito Sansei, and his sandan (third dan) and yondan (fourth dan) in Iwama from Hitohiro Saito Sensei.

He currently lives and teaches in Torino, Italy. His approach to teaching follows as closely as possible that of his current instructor and mentor, Saito Hitohiro Sensei and before that of the late Saito Morihiro Sensei. Classes focus on the fundamentals of each technique, with instruction and correction tailored to the needs of each student.
 
Antonella Garone
garoneAntonella Garone is ranked 3rd dan in Aikido, a practice she began in 1989 under the instruction of Giovanni Gerbi Sensei at the Doyu Kai dojo in Torino, Italy.

In these years she diligently studied the Aikido of Iwama attending several seminars directed by Morihiro Saito Sensei or other Iwama Ryu Sempai.

She currently lives in Torino, Italy and serves as vice instructor at the Aiki Shin Dojo in Torino.