Steven Ken Ota (“Sensei Steve”)was born on Oct 7 1948 of the renowned Ota family of the Judo/Aikido Cultural and Ballroom Dancing School in Goleta, CA passed away peacefully on Sunday, Nov 1, 2020 from lung cancer at the assisted living facility Casa Los Padres in Santa Barbara.
Steve grew up with a life enriched by his parents’ firm teachings – many principles borrowed from the martial arts based on mutual respect, character, discipline, responsibility, manners, and hard work. In high school, Steve began judo training with his father, first on a sawdust floor covered with canvas, and later on tatami mats at the newly constructed dojo.
In the 1970’s Steve traveled to Japan to train and learn Aikido (“Ki”) under the tutelage of the great master sensei Koichi Tohei. He received and earned his aikido black belt
Steve’s martial arts career was long and successful which earned him nidan (second) degree black belt in judo and was one of the highest-ranking sensei instructors in the US in Shinshin Toitsu Aikido (aikido with Ki) and ending up as a rokudan (seventh degree black belt), and shinhan (master instructor). He continued teaching aikido until his cancer diagnosis.
Source: Santa barbara independant
