Alessandro Costa – Certified Instructor UISP
4th DAN Tokyo Aikikai

Originally from Carrara in Tuscany, Costa was introduced to the martial arts at a young age under the guidance of his father, a pasionate practitioner of karate, an art that Costa also practiced for a number of years.

In 1993, he relocated to Turin as an officer of the Army Corps of Engineers, which is where his interest for aikido was awakened.

He attended one year at the "Nuova Dojukai", affiliated to the Iwama Ryu federation and thereafter, spent 3 years at the Aikido school of the "Okinawa" dojo in Turin, affiliate to the UISP. This is where he was introduced to Alain Tendron, an instructor from the French federation FFAAA,  responsible for and promotor of the group RenWaKai. (Our group now gets its inspiration from the RenWaKai and participates in their activities both in Italy and abroad.

In June 1998, Costa obtained his shodan (first degree black belt)under the guidance of Nino Dellisanti Sensei. He subsequently moved to Bolzano on official duty, continuing to practice in many dojos and participating in numerous national and international seminars (particularily with senseis such as Endo, Yasuno, Tissier and Tendron), earning his nidan (second degree black belt) in July 2001 as well as becoming a certified instructor of Aikido with the UISP.

He travelled to Tokyo for the first time in November 2002. This three-week experience was repeated in August 2004, in September 2005 and in August 2007, practicing daily at the Hombu Dojo (Aikikai Headquarters) and at Yasuno Sensei’s private dojos.

In August 2003, Costa decided to dedicate himself to the practice and dissemination of Aikido, and therefore left the army and settled permanently in Bolzano.

In June 2004, he received his 3rd dan from the ADO UISP, which was subsequently recognized by Tokyo Aikikai in September 2006. Nel gennaio 2009 ha conseguito il grado di IV° dan.In January 2009 he was awarded his IV ° dan from the UISP.

In September 2001, joined the RenWaKai instructors, and, with Alain Tendron’s blessing, founded the RenWaKai Association - Bolzano, affiliated to the UISP. From octobre of the same year, as technial head of the same association, he teaches in Bolzano at the military compound "Druze" in via Drusus 20.

Anna Burger
2nd DAN Tokyo Aikikai

Anna Burger has practiced aikido since 1997, starting out in an Aikikai dojo in Bolzano.
In 1998 she met Alessandro Costa and, starting from 2000, she decides to go on studying Aikido under his direction.
She participates in numerous seminars both in Italy and abroad, having the opportunity to study the aikido of several great masters (Endo Shihan, Sensei, Yasuno Sensei Tissier and Tendron). In 2001 she co-founded the RenWaKai Association – Bolzano together with Alessandro Costa and is still an active member of this group.
In 2004 Anna Burger takes her shodan at an examination in Turin under the direction of Alessandro Costa.
In September 2003, she started her apprenticeship as an Aikido teacher and substitutes when Alessandro Costa is absent for work.

In June 2008, Anna Burger passes the exam for her nidan, which is recognized by the Tokyo Aikikai in September 2008.

Alessandro Costa, Anna Burger und Yamashima Sensei(7° dan Aikikai) - Hombu Dojo (Tokyo), August 2008

Alessandro Costa, Anna Burger und Gerard Sachs (7° dan Aikikai) - Hombu Dojo (Tokyo), August 2007

Alessandro Costa und Anna Burger - Hombu Dojo (Tokyo), August  2004

Aikido Bolzano - dojo RenWaKai
Drusus-Straße 20 – Bozen - Tel. 328 2049103 - alekosta@hotmail.com