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| HONOURARY DOJO-CHO |
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Kawahara Shihan, 8th dan |
For many years Kawahara Shihan was the Technical Director of the and the . He had been designated by the in Japan as their official representative to Canada. The members of Vancouver West Aikikai are immensely saddened he is no longer among us and they will long cherish his memory.
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| CHIEF INSTRUCTOR |
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Ishu Ishiyama Sensei, 7th dan |
Ishiyama Sensei is the chief instructor of Vancouver West Aikikai.
Please refer to the section for more information about Sensei. |
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| CURRENT INSTRUCTIONAL TEAM |
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Liz McKinlay, 5th Dan |
| Liz McKinlay, 5th Dan, is the primary instructor for the Children's Program ( and an assistant instructor for the Regular Adults Program at VWA. She has been practising Aikido with Ishiyama Sensei since 1979. She practised Judo for 6 years before that. |
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Bruce Riddick, 5th Dan |
| Bruce Riddick, 5th Dan, is an assistant instructor for the Regular Adults Program at VWA.
Bruce started learning Aikido in Victoria in 1985. His primary instructors have been Kawahara Shihan, Ishiyama Sensei, Paris Sensei, and MacPhail Sensei. He attends most of the training seminars given by Kawahara Shihan and Ishiyama Sensei in B.C., and he has trained at Hombu dojo during several trips to Japan |
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Dave Bursey, 3rd Dan |
| Dave Bursey, 3rd Dan, started his Aikido training in 1991 with Ishiyama Sensei. He is an assistant instructor for the Regular Adults Program at VWA. Dave began his martial arts training in the 1970s. |
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Sharon Bader, 3rd Dan |
| Sharon Bader, 3rd Dan, uses her over 15 years of Aikido experience in her daily life to help her stay focused and relaxed while moving smoothly with strength and stability. She is an assistant instructor for the Regular Adults Program at VWA. |
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Mert Berkalp, 3rd Dan |
| Mert Berkalp is an Assistant Instructor teaching one of the Adult Beginners' classes as well as the children's classes and he is a substitute instructor for the regular class from time to time. He hails from Turkey and brings a wealth of experience with him. He was promoted Nidan in 2002. |
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Bob Wolber, 2nd Dan |
| Bob Wolber, 2nd Dan, has studied martial arts in several disciplines since 1972. He began Aikido practice with Ishiyama Sensei in 1993 and earned his 1st dan ranking 7 years later. He is an assistant instructor for the Regular Adults Program at VWA. |
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Randy Lam, 2nd Dan |
| Randy Lam, 2nd Dan, is an instructor for the Adult Beginners' Program (Wednesday class) at VWA. He started Aikido in 1993 at . He then moved to Vancouver in 1999 and studied Aikido at UBC for two years. Randy joined Vancouver West Aikikai in 2001. |
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Anna Stukas, 2nd Dan |
| Anna Stukas, 2nd Dan, is an instructor for the Adult Beginners' Program (Sunday class) at VWA. |
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The following members of the Vancouver West Aikikai are the designated instructional assistants for the current Adult Beginners' Program:
- Yelena Ryabova (2nd Dan)
- Valentine Kabanets (1st Dan)
- Bill Burns (1st Dan)
- Nadine Seepaul (1st Dan)
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