Sensei Reza Samadi began practicing Aikido in 1993 under the direct supervision of Shihan Aray, head of the Aikido Federation in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. Shihan Aray is one of the few surviving direct disciples of Aikido’s founder, O-Sensei Morihei Ueshiba, and a core member of Hombu Dojo.
With more than 30 years of training experience, and having attended classes led by great masters at Hombu Dojo and other dojos across Japan, Sensei Samadi has achieved the rank of 6th Dan Aikido. He is the only Iranian Aikido instructor who holds an official international teaching license from Japan, granting him permission to teach in all countries worldwide. Over the years, he has traveled extensively, both as an Aikido instructor and as an uchi-deshi accompanying Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba (President of the Aikido World Headquarters), Shihan Aray, and other renowned masters.
After decades of dedication and rigorous training, Sensei Samadi resolved to share his invaluable knowledge with students and enthusiasts in his homeland, in cooperation with the Martial Arts Federation of Iran. He is currently the head of the style Iran Aikido Aray Dojo in Iran.
Sensei Samadi has always sought to reduce the gap between Aikido in Iran and the global standards of the art through his international connections. Each year, he enables Iranian practitioners to train in Japan and, through continuous efforts, invites distinguished Aikido masters to teach in Iran.
The mission of Sensei Samadi and the Iran Aikido Aray Dojo is to elevate the technical level of students and instructors by teaching authentic, comprehensive, and advanced Aikido techniques in accordance with Japanese standards. His vision is that, through the unity and collaboration of veterans, teachers, and students across the nation, Iranian Aikido will gain global recognition, and the tricolor flag of Iran will proudly wave in international Aikido gatherings.
