Ishiyama Sensei with Kawahara Shihan

Ishiyama Sensei (left) with Kawahara Shihan, Technical Director of the Canadian Aikido Federation

Ishiyama Sensei with a photo of O-Sensei

Ishiyama Sensei with a photo of Founder Morihei Ueshiba

Bansen Tanaka Shihan

Bansen Tanaka Shihan
(1912 to 1988)

Ishiyama Sensei

Ishu Ishiyama Shihan, 7th dan (Chief Instructor)

Ishu Ishiyama Shihan 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 Shihan 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.

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 the 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). He later built a full-time Aikido dojo located in the Jericho Hill Centre building where he has been teaching Aikido taijutsu (body work) and weapons (Aiki-jo and Aiki-ken) regularly as the Chief Instructor and the Executive Director (dojo-cho). He and his senior students offer three Aikido programs for children, adult beginners and regular adult classes.

Ishiyama Sensei, Osaka, Japan, 1969

Kawahara Sensei and Ishiyama Sensei. Practising in Kyoto Park, 1975

Kawahara Sensei and Ishiyama Sensei. Practising in Kyoto Park, 1975

Kawahara Sensei and Ishiyama Sensei, Montreal, 1975

Tohei Sensei with Ishiyama Sensei (uke), 1975

Akira Tohei Sensei and Ishiyama Sensei, Montreal, 1977

Tanaka Sensei, Osaka Aikikai, 1981

Saito Sensei and Ishiyama Sensei, Calgary, 1986

Doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba at his home, 1987

Ishiyama Sensei with Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba at Hombu Dojo, 1987

Ishiyama Sensei and Chiba Sensei in Vancouver, 1988

Kanai Sensei and Ishiyama Sensei, BC Summer Camp, 1993

Ishiyama Sensei doing ganseki otoshi at Kitsilano dojo, 2005

Ishiyama Sensei doing iriminage at Kitsilano dojo, 2005

Ishiyama Sensei performing kokyunage, 2005

Chief Priest Kaya from Tanashi Shrine performing Shinto Purification at Vancouver West Aikikai dojo, 2007

Yamada Sensei, Ishiyama Sensei and Tamura Sensei in Montreal, 2007

Ishiyama Sensei and Hayato Osawa Sensei in Victoria, 2008

Ishiyama Sensei at Vancouver West Aikikai dojo, 2009

Ishiyama Sensei with Aikido friends in Montreal, 2009

Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba and Vancouver West members at Hombu Dojo, 2010

Ishiyama Sensei, Yonetani Sensei and members of Kamakura Wakamiya Aikikai in Kamakura, Japan, 2010

Tada Sensei and Ishiyama Sensei, Hombu dojo, 2010