Ryūgan R.D. Savoca

Chief Instructor

Ryūgan Robert D. Savoca began studying judo and aikido at age 13 in San Diego County. He continued to study aikido at UCLA and then the West Los Angeles Aikido Institute. Moving to New York, he continued his training at Aikido of Manhattan for a year and a half with Juba Nour Shihan. Afterwards, he apprenticed to T.K. Chiba Shihan, as an uchideshi (live-in student) in San Diego for a year. Moving back to New York, he resumed training with Juba Nour Shihan and then started Brooklyn Aikikai in 2001. ​ Ryūgan holds the rank of rokudan (6th dan), and is a Birankai North America Shihan.

Kate Savoca

Assistant Instructor

Kate Savoca began her aikido training in 2002 at Brooklyn Aikikai. She currently holds the rank of godan (5th dan) and is certified to teach by Birankai North America. Kate has been teaching at Saint Ann's School in Brooklyn, NY, for over 20 years.