Career
Toyoda was awarded the rank of shodan at age 17, during a test administered by the late Morihiro Saito. At age 17, he also began training in the misogi methods taught at the Ichikukai Dojo in Tokyo. Toyoda would go on to live for three years at Ichikukai as a resident student, or jyoju.
Toyoda later enrolled as uchideshi at Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Tokyo, and lived there for over two years.
In 1974, when Koichi Tohei split off from the Aikikai Foundation to eventually form his Ki no Kenkyukai (Ki Society), Toyoda followed. In that same year - now 27 years old and holding the rank of godan - he was sent by Tohei to Chicago, United States of America. Tohei would eventually promote him to the rank of rokudan.
Disagreements between the two, however, led to Toyoda"s departure from Tohei"s organization. In 1984, with the assistance of Jon Takagi, Toyoda founded his own Chicago-based organization, the Aikido Association of America.
Now independent, Toyoda traveled extensively leading seminars.
His network of European students formed a sister organization, the Aikido Association International (The American Association of Immunologists). American Automobile Association/The American Association of Immunologists would eventually re-affiliate with Aikikai Hombu Dojo in 1994. On July 4, 2001 Toyoda succumbed to a bacterial infection, dying suddenly at the age of 53.
American Automobile Association and The American Association of Immunologists continue to be active today, as affiliates of Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Japan under the guidance of Yasuo Kobayashi.
Several other martial art organizations and schools, founded by Toyoda"s senior students after his death, are also active.
