Ito is as been practicing and teaching Amma/Shiatsu for the last 40 years.

1962 - 1964
Ito was born in Hiroshima, Japan in 1942. He entered Chuo University in Tokyo in 1960, graduating with a degree in law. At the age of 18, while at university, he began the study of Shotokai Karate with Master Shigeru Egami. As a part of his martial art training, he began the study of traditional Japanese health care (Shiatsu/pressure-point massage and Kappo/ »first aid » techniques traditionally practiced among Japanese martial arts instructors) under the guidance of Master Egami.

1965-1975
In 1965, Ito joined Rakutenkai a group of creative artists headed by Shintaido creator Hiroyuki Aoki.
In 1971, he established the Sogo Budo Renmei (Holistic Martial Arts Federation which later became "Shintaido Kyokai") with Hiroyuki Aoki as head instructor, and served as the first administrative director, laying the groundwork for the spread of Shintaido in Japan. During this apprenticeship period, he studied a wide range of healing and Meditation techniques under the guidance of Master Aoki.

1975-2000
In 1975, Ito moved to California in order to develop Shintaido in North America and Europe. In 1982, he met David Palmer in San Francisco and began studying a complete program of Amma (traditional Japanese massage) while teaching Shintaido to David Palmer. Through their cooperative efforts, Shintaido became a part of the training program of the Amma Institute of San Francisco.
In 1986, when David Palmer established the Touch-Pro onsite massage program, Ito became consultant and trainer for the program.
In 1990, on David Palmer’s recommendation (or « with an introduction from David Palmer »), Ito began a series of visits to L'Attitude, Center of Massage and Relaxation in Quebec, Canada where he developed and taught a program of Shintaido Meditation and Healing along with specialized techniques for Amma and Shiatsu.
In 1995, under the sponsorship of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Menlo Park, and with the support of Hospice by the Bay's Executive Director Connie Borden in San Francisco, He began developing and presenting programs across the United States using Shintaido moving meditation to help hospice staff and caregivers with stress management and self-care. These programs are now being given across the United States, including enthusiastically received presentations to annual conventions of the California Hospice and Palliative Care Association and National Hospice and Palliative Care Organizations.

H.F. Ito is a founding faculty member of the American School of Japanese Arts in Santa Rosa, and is currently a consultant/trainer at The Amma Institute, the Touch Pro Institute, and Touch Wellness in San Francisco, CA, Seaman Medical Translation in Bellingham, WA, the Wellness Resource Center in North Dartmouth, MA, L'Attitude in Quebec, Qc, Canada, Mood Disorder Association -Japan in Tokyo, and theInstitute of Holistic Psychology & Education in Mie, Japan.

>> Instructor Nicole Beauvois