Master Biographies
Sensei Jacek Ostrowski - 5th Dan Aikido Aikikai
In Memoriam (1972-2024)
Sensei Jacek Ostrowski was born on September 8, 1972, in Krotoszyn. He passed away suddenly on May 7, 2024, at the age of 52, leaving an enormous void in the Polish martial arts world.
The Beginnings of a Warrior's Path
At the age of 12, he had his first contacts with sports and martial arts, starting with wrestling, and later kyokushin karate and jujitsu. In 1991, he began service in the Navy in Gdynia, where he participated in Aikido training for the first time.
He began regular training in autumn 1992 at the Tricity Military Sports Club "FLOTA" under his first Sensei M. Siejka in the Polish Aikido Federation. There he also trained at Wadokan Dojo in Gdynia under Sensei Tomasz Tyszka, where he met young Oskar Szrajer and many other aikidokas with whom he shared his first steps on the tatami.
Meeting Shihan Fumio Toyoda
In 1997, while participating in one of the seminars organized by Sensei Tomasz Krzyżanowski (then 3rd dan Aikido Aikikai, President of A.A.I-Poland), he encountered Aikido performed by Shihan Fumio Toyoda - 6th dan Aikido Aikikai, President A.A.A./A.A.I. This meeting determined his further path in Aikido.
Founding Sesshinkan Dojo
In 2003, together with Sławomir Orłowski and Oskar Szrajer, he opened his own dojo - Sesshinkan Dojo at the Military Sports Club "FLOTA" and Naval Academy in Gdynia. That same year, he was promoted to 1st dan Aikido by Sensei J. Nakayama.
After Shihan Toyoda's death, wanting to continue in accordance with his path, he established cooperation with Sensei Edward Petkov Germanov - President of B.A.A., representative of the Toyoda family, and became his representative in Poland.
Development and Achievements
At the beginning of 2006, he was promoted to 2nd dan Aikido Aikikai by Sensei Germanov. In 2007-2008, Sensei Jacek, with a group of Sesshinkan Dojo instructors, founded and registered an association under the name Polish Aikido Organization, continuing the path of Shihan Toyoda.
At the beginning of 2008, together with Sensei Orłowski, he participated in a rigorous Uchideshi program at the B.A.A. Hombu dojo under Sensei Germanov (5th dan Aikido), and in March 2008, he successfully passed another rank - 3rd dan Aikido Aikikai.
Jujutsu and Uniformed Services
In 1997, together with Sensei Jacek Świąda, practicing and simultaneously leading Jujitsu/Jujutsu sections in Gdynia, they were admitted as instructors of the Polish Association of Uniformed Services Instructors. He collaborated with world-class traditional martial arts masters, including soke Antonio Garcia (10th dan), Terry Wengrove (10th dan), shihan Dariusz Otocki (7th dan), Marek Pantkowski (6th dan), Krzysztof Jankowiak (9th dan), Grzegorz Krauze (7th dan), Przemysław Burzyński (4th dan), and many other well-known figures from the Budo world.
In 2005, he successfully passed the exam for 1st dan Jujutsu Hakko Denshin-ryu, and at the same time was promoted to 1st dan Combat-Jujitsu PZISM. In 2007, he participated in the Yudansha program at the Jujutsu Hakko Denshin-ryu Kokodo Renmei Hombu dojo under soke Antonio Garcia (10th dan) and successfully passed the exam for 2nd dan Jujutsu Hakko Denshin-ryu.
Final Years and Legacy
Sensei Jacek Ostrowski served as President of the Polish Aikido Organization and the Racibórz Aikido Center. He was a regional representative for the Śląskie and Pomorskie voivodeships of the Polish Association of Uniformed Services Instructors, conducting regular classes with children, youth, adults, and uniformed services in his hometown Racibórz and in many cities in Poland and abroad, organizing national and international seminars and training camps with world-class masters.
He held the following master ranks:
- Shihan Jujutsu - 6th dan
- Sensei Aikido Aikikai - 5th dan
- Taiho-jutsu - 5th dan
- Jujutsu Hakko Denshin-ryu - 4th dan
In addition to martial arts, Sensei Ostrowski was the founder of the Blue Diving dive center and organizer of the Budo Gala festival in Racibórz. He worked as an instructor at the University of Applied Sciences in Racibórz.
Sensei Jacek Ostrowski passed away suddenly on May 7, 2024, returning from a diving expedition to Croatia. His legacy lives on in the hearts of all those he taught and inspired. He left behind not only students and an organization, but above all an example of the indomitable spirit of a warrior and dedication to the art of Aikido according to the tradition of Shihan Fumio Toyoda.
Rest in peace, Sensei.