Sensei Salim Kai was born on May 14th, 1964 in Lebanon. He
obtained a visa to leave Lebanon and go to college in the United States. There
he spent 12 years in the State of Michigan, learning English and then studying
Engineering Physics. Thereafter, he also studied Biomedical Engineering
Technology while working at the University of Michigan Medical Center as a
Cardiopulmonary Technician in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit, and later on as
a Biomedical Engineer.
While there, he saw enough sick people to realize that there is something awfully wrong with the world…this changed his views on life.
He began his Aikido training in 1984, while still a student in Engineering Physics. His initial introduction to the art of Aikido was with Sensei Daniel Sharp and Steve Richter, and under the direct supervision of the late Walter E. Todd. He remained a student there until his return to Lebanon on December 9th, 1993.
Upon his arrival in Lebanon he pursued his training, and began teaching Aikido
to a small number of students on January 19th, 1995, at Notre Dame University.
In the years to follow, between 1995 and 2000, Sensei Salim taught in about ten
clubs throughout Lebanon till he finally settled in his own dojo, Harmony Club.
During the summer of 1995, Sensei Salim crossed paths with Sensei Bio Gabriel,
and thus became his student. He remains loyal to him till today.
From January 1995 until August 2003, Sensei Salim dedicated his entire time, energy, and resources to the dissemination of Aikido in Lebanon. He helped his own students become teachers in their own right and establish their own dojos throughout the country to spread the message of peace.
After serving as the President of the Lebanese Aikido Federation for over 5
years and as the chief instructor at Harmony Club, Sensei Salim got married to
Miss Josiane Rizk on June 11, 2003 and moved back to the State of Michigan a few
months later. He
currently trains in Aikikai Aikido, Daito Ryu Aikijutsu and Mugai Ryu Iaido.
We wish Sensei Salim the best of luck.