Drake Sensei, 6th Dan, Shidoin
Deena Drake Sensei began training in Aikido in 1995 with M. Flynn Shihan in Northern California. She joined the kenshusei (teacher’s training) program in 1997 and continued her training as an apprentice to T.K. Chiba Shihan and M. Murashige Shihan in San Diego beginning in 2000. Drake Sensei graduated from the kenshusei program in 2007 as a fully certified instructor (Shidoin). She holds the rank of 6th degree black belt and is a member of the Board of Directors for Birankai North America. In her professional life, Drake Sensei is a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Intensive Care Unit and Emergency Department at Scripps Mercy Hospital in Chula Vista.