Ken Ota Sensei's experience in the martial arts ranges over fifty years. First with Judo and then for the past thirty years with practicing and teaching Aikido. Ota Sensei's first Aikido teacher was Isao Takahashi Sensei and he later practiced under Koichi Tohei Sensei.

He has taught Judo and Aikido at the University of California Santa Barbara and hosted five womens judo camps on that campus.

Sensei has had well over 50,000 students pass through the Goleta Dojo over the years and from time to time old students drop in to watch and train. Teaching methods have changed over the years but the basics of rhythm, keeping one point, and timing remain the same. Ota Sensei is constantly learning from his students and striving to improve his teaching skill.