Gayne J. Sogi began his Aikido training accompanying his father at the age of 13 to the dojo on Waialae Avenue in the adult class under the instructor, Yukiso Yamamoto. He experienced teachings of many of the first generation instructors in Hawaii. He trained in earnest under the guidance of Sadao Yoshioka Shihan for many years, eventually assisting him in the Adult Beginners’ class teaching the new students the basic exercises, tumbling and other basic requirements. He was also required to continue his training under strict discipline of his teacher receiving a little extra instruction on the side to help perfect his movements and, in the words of his teacher, learning to be a leader.

At the rank of Nidan (2nd degree Black Belt), Sogi Sensei was assigned to teach the 8 AM Saturday Children’s class at Nuuanu YMCA in 1976. Here, after a few years, with the blessing of his teacher, sarted a Saturday Adult class open to Beginners and Advanced Aikido students of the Nuuanu Aikido Club. He continued teaching on Saturdays at Nuuanu Y until February, 1984.

In 1984, the Young Buddhist Association (Y.B.A.) administration at the recommendation of Iida Sensei of the Y.B.A Judo Club, asked Yoshioka Shihan to start an Aikido program at the Y.B.A. Yoshioka Sensei had asked Sogi Sensei to be the head instructor at the Y.B.A. On Wednesday, February 1, 1984, the Y.B.A. Aikido Club started its first Adult Beginners’ class. Since its inception, Sogi Sensei, under the guidance of his teacher, expanded the program to include an Adult Advanced class with the Beginners class Monday, Wednesday & Friday, a junior program on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, both beginning and advanced classes and an Adult Beginners/Advanced class on Saturday afternoons. Presently, the Junior classes during the week days have expanded to start at 4 pm and are part of the after school care program under the Hongwanji Mission School.

Recently, at the request of the Honpa Hongwanji betsuin, the club name was changed to “Hawaii Betsuin Aikido Club”.

Sogi Sensei currently holds the rank of 6th Dan (Rokudan), title of Shidoin, and is the Assistant Chief Instructor of the Hawaii Aikido Federation. The Hawaii Betsuin Aikido Club is a member of the Hawaii Aikido Federation, which is a direct member of the Aikikai Foundation aikido World Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. The Aikido Foundation is currently under the guidance of the Sandai Doshu, Moriteru Ueshiba, the grandson of the founder of Aikido.