Johnny Tenegra

-------

Sensei Johnny Tenegra is the founder and president and chief instructor of both two aikido organizations in the Philippines - the MANILA AIKIDOKAS AND SPORTS PROPAGATION ASSOCIATION (MASPA) "The hombu Loyalists Group" and the PILIPINAS AIKIDO PROPAGATION ASSOCIATION (PAPA) "The hombu Loyalists Group".

Aikikai Foundation, the World Aikido Headquarters (Hombu) officially recognizes, authorizes and appointed the Pilipinas Aikido Propagation Association (PAPA) as the Hombu sole aikido representative organization in the Philippines and Sensei Johnny Tenegra as the Hombu sole aikido area representative in the Philippines. Both documents, the Certification of Recognizations, Appointments, and Authorizations given by Aikikai Foundation, The Aikido World Headquarters (HOMBU) to Pilipinas Aikido Propagation Association (PAPA) and to sensei Johnny Tenegra were signed by the great beloved Doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba and Master Kisaburo Osawa. Both documents can be seen at the end below. Sensei Johnny Tenegra and PAPA are members of International Aikido Federation (IAF).

At a young age, Sensei Johnny Tenegra loved sports and learned aikido at that early age. It was in his high school days that he was deeply involved in aikido.

Later, Sensei Johnny Tenegra became an active member and instructor of Manila Aikido Club.

Later, Manila Aikido Club moved again to Quezon Boulevard, Quiapo.

It was later the time of Sensei Ceferino Valdez as overall president of the Manila Aikido Club that Manila Aikido Club became Philippine Aikikai.

Later, Sensei Johnny Tenegra became the overall president of Philippine Aikikai after the death of Sensei Ceferino Valdez. As president, Sensei Johnny Tenegra made essential reforms for the improvement of aikido, in general, and to follow the teachings of HOMBU.

Later, Sensei Johnny Tenegra left Philippine Aikikai and formed another Aikido organization, the Manila Aikidokas and Sports Propagation Association (MASPA), "The Hombu Loyalists Group" that will teach only Aikido following the teachings of the great beloved Osensei Morehei Ueshiba and that of HOMBU.

MASPA under the leadership of Sensei Johnny Tenegra, together with the support and help of all MASPA officers, advisors, and members, vigorously and aggressively energized the spread and propagation of Aikido in the Phillipines and noted for their demonstrations and exhibitions in any places with or without mats. Affiliation to MASPA started and memberships grew bigger. MASPA became known nationally and internationally.

MASPA was visited by foreign high ranking Aikidoists who gave seminars, practiced and gave valuable advanced techniques in Aikido to MASPA members. Visitors like Sensei Kenneth Cottier of Aikikai Foundation, the World Aikido Headquarters (Hombu), Tokyo, Japan, Master Paul C.N. Lee, president of Republic of China Aikido Assocation (ROCAA); Sensei G. Button, Chief Instructor of the Hong Kong Royal Police; Senseis / Instructors E. Wan, S. Lai and M. Leung of Hong Kong Hong Kong Aikido Assocation, etc.

Later, Sensei Johnny Tenegra changed the name Manila Aikidokas and Sports Propagation Association (MASPA) to Pilipinas Aikido Propagation Assocation (PAPA).

PAPA under the leadership of Sensei Johnny Tenegra STARTED THE ERA OF THE COMING OF THE MASTERS/ SHIHANS FROM INTERNATIONAL AIKIDO FEDERATION (IAF), THE WORLD AIKIDO HEADQUARTERS (HOMBU) OF JAPAN TO THE PHILIPPINES TO GIVE SEMINARS, TO TEACH TECHNIQUES OF AIKIDO AND TO PRACTICE WITH PAPA MEMBERS AND OTHER NTERESTED PARTIES. Sensei Johnny Tenegra is credited AS THE FIRST ONE who succeeded and started bringing the great Masters / Shihans and Senseis from HOMBU, Japan and IAF to the Phillipines to improve the quality of Aikido in the Phillipines year after year. All Aikidoists in the past, present, and future who have benefited and who will benefit from the visits / coming of the Masters and Senseis from HOMBU and IAF must know and remember that the visits of the masters WAS FIRST STARTED by Sensei Johnny Tenegra with the support of his entire Aikido Organization, the Pilipinas Aikido Propagation Association (PAPA), all the instructors, officers, advisors, and members who pave the way for the successive and successful visits / coming of these great masters every year to improve the quality of aikido in the Phillipines.

The IAF and Hombu Masters / Shihans / Senseis who visited PAPA are: Master / Shihan H. Somemiya; Master / Shihan M. Fujita; Master / Shihan N. Watanabe; Master / Shihan P. C. N. Lee; Master/ Shihan N. Ichihashi; Master / Shihan M. Sasaki; Sensei S. Iwagasaki; Sensei H. Osawa, Sensei E. Kasuya, Sensei M. Iwarashi, and Sensei Kenneth Cottier

Sensei Johnny Tenegra expresses his thanks and gratitude to Osensei Morihei Ueshiba, Doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba, Master Kisaburo Osawa and to all the IAF and Hombu Masters and Senseis who visited PAPA especially to Master Hiroshi Somemiya who helps a lot and also to Master Masatake Fujita, Sensei Kenneth Cottier and Master Paul C. N. Lee.