Reverend Louis Jumonville Shihan

Reverend Louis Jumonville Shihan, 7th Dan Aikikai, Dojo Cho, and Chief Instructor of Hikari Dojo has been training in the martial arts for 55 years and teaching aikido for 38 yrs. He has trained extensively in Japan, at the founder’s original dojo under Morihiro Saito Shihan, guardian of the Aiki-Shrine. In 1991, at the founder’s dojo in Iwama, Morihiro Saito presented Jumonville Sensei with the 3rd and 4th level Aiki-Ken and Aiki-Jo Transmission Scrolls authorizing him to teach the Aiki-staff and Aiki-sword. Studying with Reverend Louis Jumonville Shihan offers a rare opportunity because he is one of the few teachers in the world who bridges the absolute peak of technical martial arts mastery with deep, clinically certified energetic and psychological healing. Here is exactly why his instruction stands apart:

  1. Direct, Unbroken Lineage Mastery
  • Iwama Uchi-Deshi Tradition: He lived and trained directly as a live-in student under Morihiro Saito Shihan in Iwama, Japan. You learn the precise, original weapons (Aiki-Ken and Aiki-Jo) and empty-hand techniques passed down from the founder of Aikido.
  • Menkyo Kaiden Certification: Holding a Menkyo Kaiden means he has received the full license of total transmission. He is legally and traditionally certified as a complete master of the system’s deep secrets, a status held by very few Westerners.

2. A Fusion of Martial Arts and Vedic Spirituality

  • Kundalini and Mantra Practice: As an ordained Vedic priest, he does not just teach physical self-defense. He explicitly integrates Vedic mantras and Kundalini energy work into the practice, teaching students how to access, channel, and move internal life-force energy (Ki) at an advanced level.
  • Awakened Technical Principles: His teaching transcends basic physical mechanics. He shows you how to blend energy (Awase), tap into infinite spontaneous creation (Takemusu Aiki), and use sound vibration to elevate your martial focus.

3. Clinically Grounded Somatic Healing

  • The Therapist’s Lens: As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and experienced somatic therapist, he understands the human nervous system deeply.
  • Trauma Release: He uses the physical, grounded movements of Aikido as a practical tool to help students release stress, process physical blockages, and heal emotional trauma stored directly in the body.

4.Accessible, High-Level Instruction in Ventura County

  • Senior California Leadership: As one of the most senior teachers in the region, he brings world-class, international-level training right to Santa Barbara and Ventura County.
  • Tailored for Growth: Whether you want to master precise traditional weapons, find deep spiritual alignment, or heal your body-mind connection, his unique background ensures you are learning from a highly accomplished teacher of both the physical, psychological and spiritual realms.