
Ishu Ishiyama Sensei, 6th dan.
Chief Instructor
Kanai Sensei and Ishiyama Sensei
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Ishu Ishiyama Sensei received shodan from Seiseki Abe Shihan (O-Sensei's calligraphy teacher), 2nd dan and 3rd dan from Bansen Tanaka Shihan, and 4th, 5th and 6th dan by the recommendation of the Shihans on the North American Aikido Federation Technical Directors Committee (esp. Yamada, Kanai, and Kawahara Senseis). |
| Ishu Ishiyama Sensei has been studying Aikido since 1968. He studied with the late Tanaka Shihan (one of O-Sensei's close pre-war disciples), who founded an Aikido dojo in 1936 which later became Osaka Aikikai Foundation. In North America, he trained closely with Kanai and Kawahara Senseis. He has studied with Yamada, Chiba, Tohei, Nakazono, and Saito Shihans, and received occasional instructions from the late Doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba and the current Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba over the past 30 years. |
Second Doshu |

Sandai Doshu and Ishiyama Sensei |
Sensei has been teaching Aikido since 1973. In 1974, he was invited to teach Aikido by the then National Coach for Judo Canada (Nakamura Sensei) and founded Aikido Kensankai at his dojo, Shidokan Academy of Martial Arts, in Montreal. Sensei also began teaching Aikido at several dojos and colleges in and around Montreal. In 1979, Ishu Ishiyama Sensei was invited by then chief instructor Gary Mols (a student of Yoshioka Sensei, Hawaii) to head the Victoria Aikikai (located in Victoria, B.C.) and its affiliated University of Victoria Aikido Club. Sensei has since conducted many seminars across Canada. |
| Sensei moved to Vancouver, British Columbia in 1986, and founded Vancouver West Aikikai (formerly known as Point Grey Aikikai) located at the West Point Grey Community Centre in Vancouver, where he is currently teaching Aikido regularly as Chief Instructor. |
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Ishiyama Sensei (left) with Kawahara Shihan, Technical Director of the Canadian Aikido Federation |
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Ishiyama Sensei with a photo of Founder Morihei Ueshiba |
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Bansen Tanaka Shihan
(1912 to 1988) |
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