....embarked upon his long journey in Karate-do on January 15th, 1960 at the age of 13, and has since become the most senior instructor of Ichikawa Ha Gojuryu Karate-do outside of Japan, achieving the grade of Ku-Dan (9^th Dan) Hanshi. This grade was awarded by Chiba Kenjiro Sensei, 5^th Soke of the All-Japan Gojuryu Karate-do Renmei in Sendai Japan, from the express recommendation of Ichikawa Sosui O’Sensei. Additionally, he holds the grade of Hachi-Dan (8^th Dan) Hanshi awarded directly from Yamamoto Gonnohyoe Sensei, Chief Executive Master of the International Karate-do Organization (IKO) in Tokyo Japan. Taiani Sensei is recognized as one of the world’s foremost authorities on Gojuryu bunkai and history, has won both national and international championships for kata and kumite, and is one of the only non-Japanese Kodansha to become a Jiki Deshi (direct disciple) of Ichikawa Sosui O’Sensei.

The year 2010 marks Taiani Sensei’s 50^th anniversary of dedication and continuous training in the art of Karate-do. Over the many years, in addition to his devotion to Ichikawa Ha, his quest for knowledge has brought him to the dojos of many legendary instructors such as:

Chiba Kenjiro Sensei, Tsubamoto Kazunobu Sensei 
             
Yamaguchi Gogen Sensei
Toguchi Seikichi Sensei
Shinjo Masanobu Sensei
Yagi Meitoku Sensei
Togushiki Iken Sensei
Yonemoto Kiyoshi Sensei

A lifetime of achievement in Gojuryu Karate-do that started with one step in 1963....

....This was the year that Taiani Sensei began training under the authority of the East Coast division of the Goju-Kai which led him to earning Sho-Dan (1^st Dan). After an unexpected announcement in 1967 that the organization was breaking away from the hombu dojo, Taiani Sensei decided to travel to California to meet with Yamaguchi Gosei Sensei, the United States representative of the Goju-Kai, for training and to foster ties with the organization. Shortly after, Taiani Sensei was given a personal invitation by the famous Yamaguchi Gogen Sensei to travel to Japan and become an Uchi Deshi (live-in student). Although Yamaguchi Gogen Sensei was Taiani Sensei’s chief instructor, the teacher that truly nurtured his development during his time in Japan was Yamamoto Gonnohyoe, who was the All-Japan Karate-do Champion and a brilliant fighter who would later go on to co-found the IKO.

In 1973 Taiani Sensei returned to Japan in order to continue his training. Due to a serious family illness, Yamamoto Sensei was unable to conduct lessons and asked Ichikawa Sosui O’Sensei to train his student from the United States. When Ichikawa O’Sensei agreed and was introduced to Taiani Sensei, an immediate bond was formed and from that point on, Ichikawa O’Sensei would wind up being Taiani Sensei’s sole teacher from 1973 until his passing in 2005.