Robert Caron Sensei began his training in Aikido and Zen in 1995 with Zenshinkan Dojo founder Edward Haupt Sensei. After Haupt Sensei's death in 1999, he continued training as a student of Damon Apodaca Sensei and then as a direct student of Fumio Toyoda Shihan.

Caron Sensei retired from the Chief Instructor position at the dojo in 2016 and currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Zenshinkan Dojo.

When he teaches, Caron Sensei takes a unique and integrated perspective on Aikido and Zen training as a tool for personal transformation. His passion lies in using high quality, dynamic Aikido to bring about a greater sense of understanding of our behaviors, thoughts and actions and how they contribute to the life we are creating.

“Our movement in Aikido and the manner in which we deal with an attack, is a reflection of our total self as an emotional, cognitive and physical being. The mind and body cannot be separated; therefore, we use our Aikido to cut straight into the essence of who we truly are in that moment.”

Caron Sensei has been guided and inspired by some of the best Aikido and Zen Masters of the 21st century. Having been exposed to such high quality instruction, he has committed himself to passing on the art of Aikido and the practice of Zen in their most authentic form. Caron Sensei values excellence in Aikido technique and has a deep respect for the power and effectiveness of Aikido as a means of self-defense.

“Aikido is a martial art with limitless application to both daily life and to tactical defense. However a great deal of patience and effort is necessary to learn how to use Aikido effectively in either domain.”

Caron Sensei often draws a connection between what we do on the Aikido mat and what we do in our daily lives; making each class relevant to what his students do both on and off the mat. As a doctor of Rehabilitation Sciences with a concentration in Biomechanics and Human Movement, he researches how the body moves at a scientific level and is capable of expressing Aikido in the terms of biomechanics as well. Therefore, Caron Sensei approaches the beautiful and powerful movements of Aikido as both science and art.

Caron Sensei is also the Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences at Becker College, while leading a Movement and Rehabilitation Sciences research lab at Assumption. In addition, he is the co-founder and Director of Business Development for Body Therapeutics, LLC., a holistic medical center located on Shore Drive in Worcester.

Currently, Caron Sensei holds the rank of Godan (5th Degree Black Belt) with Aikikai Hombu Dojo. He is a member of Tendokan Aikido International, which is a global network of Aikido dojo, led by Ed Germanov Sensei of Bulgaria, that remain committed to developing and teaching Toyoda Shihan's style of Aikido.

Caron Sensei continues to study Zen under the guidance of Ginny Whitelaw Roshi, who is a master teacher in the Chozen-ji line of Rinzai Zen Buddhism and is among three Roshi that teach at the International Zen Dojo of Wisconsin / Chozen-ji Betsuin.