Ki Budo Ryu Aikido

The Ki Budo Ryu story began with Soke Gary WineBrenner. 

Ki Budo Ryu Aikido is a method of aikido as taught by Soke Gary WineBrenner. Soke Gary started studying martial arts with his brother in 1964 in Judo and Ju-Jitsu in South Bend, Indiana. He trained in South Bend, Mishawaka, and Elkhart, Indiana, mostly at the YMCA. In October, 1968, Gary went into the U.S. Air Force. During his military time, Gary trained in Ju-Jitsu and Aikido in Germany, the Philippines, Texas, Washington, and Ohio. During his 5 year stay in Ohio, Gary was advanced to the position of Soke-Dai for the Nippon-Tendo-To-Sekai-Ryu Ju-Jitsu under Soke Jerry Winebrenner. However, he had been training in aikido and developing his own style. Soke Gary’s approach placed emphasis on five key principles expressed through a series of specific aiki-taiso movements and fundamentals of footwork,  discussed later in this document.

Soke Gary was recognized as the first generation founder of the Ki Budo Ryu methodology for teaching aikido by multiple organizations on April 10, 1986. Among the organizations recognizing Soke Gary were the World Sijo DaiSoke Renmei, the Society of Black Belts, and Soke Clement Reidner of Shiho Karano arts. Soke Gary passed in 2009.

Soke Gary trained with several schools and aikido clubs throughout his martial arts career. After his passing, his students have been attempting to piece together his aikido lineage. Unfortunately, Soke Gary didn’t leave much information on the specific groups he had trained with over the years. At a minimum, we have confirmed at least the following:

                 Ueshiba O’Sensei

                 Tohei Sensei

                 Takahashi Sensei

                 Burdine Sensei

                 Jerry WineBrenner

                 Gary WineBrenner

 If anyone has any further information on this topic, we would love to discuss. Please reach out to Walker.

Robert Johnson (pictured above), a close friend and student of Soke Gary, was selected to be the Soke Nidai, or second generation successor, of the Ki Budo Ryu Aikido System. By the time they met, Soke Johnson already had twenty+ years of experience in other martial arts systems, and he studied with Soke Gary extensively for many more years. Soke Johnson currently resides in eastern U.S.

In 2009, upon the passing of Soke Gary, the KBR Aikido system was passed to Walker Plank (pictured above) as  Soke Sandai, or third generation head of family, in accordance with Soke Gary’s wishes. Walker had been studying with both the brothers WineBrenner since 1999, starting initially with Soke Jerry in aikijutsu, then later with Soke Gary in aikido. The transmission occurred in Indiana and was affirmed by Soke NiDai Johnson as well as Gary’s twin brother, Soke Jerry.

Walker currently maintains a small aikido class in Omaha, Nebraska.