Franco Martufi

In this case as well I do not intend to write a treaty about the topic, if you want to know more you can visit the links below, I only wish to tell how I started and why I am carrying on with the practice.

For many years Hosokawa Sensei had integrated the Aikido Lessons with basic shiatsu techniques and stretching, to which I referred when I started teaching a course of Stretching at the Musubi No Kai in Cagliari. Those exercises were very successful but for me those 15 minutes of teaching were much more tiring than an hour of teaching Aikido. Even if many, including my wife, had insisted for me to try shiatsu I never did. When I returned to Rome I was pushed by the owner of the Dojo (Goodness) to try an Ohashiatsu course that was to be held there in a couple of weeks. Although I was not very convinced I went along to the first Ohashiatsu course held in Rome by Siegreid Maidorn in 1992. I was quickly to understand that it was something different from what I had previously seen around. The aim of Ohashiatsu it is indeed to allow one to use one’s energy at best without wasting it and thus without getting tired. In my case, with 15 years experience in Aikido, Ohashiatsu was a good way to direct the mental and physical balance that one acquires with Aikido, to a useful cause. I continued the program up to 1996 when I graduated, and in the same year I was accepted to the Teacher Teaching Programme and in 1997 I graduated as a Certified Ohashiatsu Instructor.

I have so far taught many Beginning and Intermediate courses. Each course brings me close to many people who contribute to one’s formation. I have taught mainly in Rome, but also in Milan , Iglesias (CA), Olbia, Avellino, Isernia, London, Johannesburg.

In January 2005 I contributed together with other colleagues to the creation of the Ohashiatsu Federation of Europe (OFE). For 3 years I hold the position of Chairman.

In July 2011 I've decided to leave the Ohashi Institute for different reasons.