1958 | Sensei Dang Thong Trị brought Aikido from France to introduce to Vietnam |
1960 | Sensei Mutsuro Nakazono in Vietnam to help Sensei Tri develop a cadre of instructors |
1964 | Sensei Tri resettled in the United States; relinquished Vietnam Aiki-Judo Association to Sensei Dang Thong Phong |
1967 | Sensei Phong traveled to Hombu Dojo, Japan, where he obtained his 3rd degree black belt in Aikido |
1967 | Sensei Phong received credentials from O'Sensei Morihei Ueshiba and 2nd Doshu, Kisshomaru Ueshiba, sanctioning his spreading of Aikido over the territory of Vietnam in the Spirit of Love and Peace. |
1968 | Sensei Phong founded Aikido Tenshinkai Federation, holding the office of President until this day |
1970 | Aikido officially introduced to the Armed Forces of the Republic of Vietnam and its school system |
1975 | Prior to the fall of South Vietnam in April 1975, Aikido members in Vietnam numbered over 10,000 |
1986 | Sensei Phong moved to the United States |
1988 | Tenshinkai Aikido Federation re-born under the name of International Tenshinkai Federation headquartered in Westminster, Orange County, California, USA |
1991 | Aikido World Headquarters recognized International Tenshinkai Aikido Federation as an official organization within the Aikikai system, sanctioned to operate in the United States |
1991-2008 | Sensei Phong taught at seminars in France, the Netherlands, England, Canada, Vietnam, and in several US states |
1994-2008 | Sensei Dang Thong Phong returned to Vietnam 7 times (plus 2 other unofficial visits) to assist with local Aikido expansion |
1994 & 1996 | Sensei Phong traveled to Vietnam with Aikikai Hombu Dojo’s General Secretary, Master Masatake Fujita, to evaluate the local Aikido activity |
1996 | Sensei Phong promoted to 3rd Headmaster of Vietnamese Han Bai Shaolin Kungfu by Sifu Vu Ba Oai, its 2nd Headmaster |
1997 | At the celebration of International Tenshinkai Aikido Federation’s 29th anniversary at Westminster, California, Sensei Phong received 6th Dan certification from Masatake Fujita Shihan, acting on behalf of 2nd Doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba |
1998 | Sensei Phong founded Aikido Tenshinkai Foundation, a non-profit organization |
1999 | Sensei Phong participated in the 37th All-Japan Aikido Demonstration at Budokan, Tokyo, Japan |
2007 | Sensei Phong led Tenshinkai delegation from Westminster Aikikai to England to attend the Memorial of the late Mutsuro Nakazono Sensei |
2008 | Sensei Phong represented Aikikai Hombu Dojo to administer Black Belt examinations to students in Vietnam |
2015 | Sensei Dang Thong Phong promoted to 7th Dan by Aikikai Hombu Dojo |
2018 | Sensei Phong led a black belt delegation from Vietnam and the USA to Australia to assist in the advancement of the local Tenshinkai Aikido |
2020 | International Tenshinkai Aikido Federation coordinated a huge 2-day event to celebrate Sensei Dang Thong Phong’s 70 Years of Martial Arts and 85th Birthday at its Westminster Aikikai Headquarters |
International Tenshinkai Aikido Federation currently has branches in the United States, Vietnam, and Canada
|