Guillaume Erard is a permanent resident of Japan with over 30 years experience in Japanese martial arts. He holds the 5th Dan in Aikido from the Aikikai World Headquarters in Tokyo. Erard is also one of the few non-japanese to hold a 3rd Dan in Daito-ryu Aiki-jujutsu, the art that Aikido's own founder, Ueshiba Morihei, studied under the legendary master Takeda Sokaku. Erard gives Aikido lectures and seminar throughout Europe and he is one of the most prominent researchers on Aiki and its history