The Genyukan Dojo chief instructor, Roman Pinkhasov Sensei, holds a 4th Dan, Doshinkan Aikido and is a certified Dojo-cho with the Aikido Association of North America. In addition he holds a 5th Dan in Shotokan Karate and 3rd Dan in Jiu-Jitsu. With over 30 years of training in martial arts, Roman Sensei brings to the Dojo, his long-time experience along with the traditions, discipline and honor of the Japanese martial arts.
Roman Pinkhasov Sensei began his martial arts training at the age of 9, when he joined a local judo club in his native country the Soviet Union. In the late 1970's, a new martial art emerged on the scene - Karate, which immediately caught his attention and which still intrigues his to this very day.
In 1990, Pinkhasov Sensei immigrated to Israel, where he met and began a serious study of Karate with Vidal Bibas Sensei. From 1990 2000, Vidal Sensei introduced Roman Sensei to the underlying principles, strategies, techniques and philosophy of the tradition, which Roman Sensei continues to practice and pass on to his students to this day.
In his quest to gain a comprehensive understanding of self-defense, in 1993, Pinkhasov Sensei visited a local Krav Maga (Hebrew ÷øá îâò: "close combat") school, where he met the late Eli Avikzar (blessed his memory), 10th Dan Krav Maga, founder of Krav Magen and senior practitioner of Aikido. It was a very short time after this first meeting that Roman Sensei added Aikido to his martial arts studies under the tutelage of the late Eli Avikzar. Unfortunately after one year Aikido classes were close. Long time Roman Sensei was looking for a good Aikido teacher, while in 1998 he met Yoshinkan Aikido Master-Sensei Adi Ben Gof, who trained many years in Japan at the Yoshinkan Hombu Dojo. ''He impressed me with his techniques and speed of movement" said Roman Sensei. Pinhasov Sensei continued his study of Yoshinkan Aikido until his migration to the United States in the year 2001.
Upon arriving in the U.S.A., Pinkhasov Sensei was introduced to Utada Kancho, a direct student of Gozo Shioda Soke, 7th Dan Yoshinkan Aikido, AANA President. Roman Sensei became a student of Utada Kancho immediately and continues to study under him until this day. In 2003, under the guidance of Utada Kancho, Roman Sensei attained the rank of 3rd Dan in Doshinkan Aikido, in 2005, receives a certificate of affiliation from Utada Kancho and in 2009 he past the test for the 4th Dan. In traditional Yoshinkan manner, Utada Sensei bestowed the name for Roman Senseis school, calling it the Genyukan - profound brave school.
Other achievements:
- Sensei Roman attended the following seminars; with Inoue Kancho 9 Dan IYAF, Chida Sensei 8th Dan IYAF. Ikeda Sensei 7th Dan Aikikai, Mustard Sensei 7th Dan IYAF, Fryberger Sensei 5th Dan IYAF.
- Miyazaki Sensei (blessed his memory) 7th Dan JKA, Ochi Sensei 8th Dan JKA, Sawada Sensei 7th Dan JKA, Enoyda Sensei (blessed his memory) 9th Dan JKA, Ohta Sensei 6th Dan JKA,
- Roman Sensei participated in Europe and World Championship in Karate and Jiu-jitsu.
- Presently teachings his students in Aikido and Karate in his new school Genyukan