Josef Birdsong Sensei, 6th Dan, is the Chief Instructor at Aikido of Austin. Birdsong Sensei has been teaching aikido since 1974. He is also on the faculty of Austin Community College where he began the aikido program in 1986. He began his training in 1970 in Sacramento, California, under the teaching of Mr. Dang Tri, 6th Dan. In 1974 he moved to Chicago, Illinois, where he began training under Akira Tohei Shihan, chief instructor of the Midwest Aikido Federation and technical director of the United States Aikido Federation.
Birdsong Sensei is Shidoin with the United States Aikido Federation, and studied 26 of his 32 years of practice under Tohei Shihan. ("Shihan" means "Master Instructor.") Birdsong Sensei has a masters in Physical Education and extensive background in elementary, secondary and college sports coaching and teaching.
See Birdsong Sensei in action! Taking ukemi for him are some of Aikido of Austin's yudansha (black belts).