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  • The Shihankai
  • Yoshimitsu Yamada
  • Nobuyoshi Tamura
  • Akira Tohei
  • T.K. Chiba
  • Mitsunari Kanai
  • Seiichi Sugano
  • Ichiro Shibata
  • Yutaka Kurita
  • Yukio Kawahara
shihankai group

Aikido Online reflects the teachings of perhaps the most prominent group of Aikido Shihan (master teachers) living outside Japan today. This group consists of the North American Shihankai Senseis, Yoshimitsu Yamada, Akira Tohei, T.K. Chiba, Mitsunari Kanai, Seiichi Sugano, Yukio Kawahara, Yutaka Kurita and Ichiro Shibata and Nobuyoshi Tamura in Europe.

These Shihan, most of whom were uchi deshi (live-in disciples) of O-Sensei Morihei Ueshiba, were in close contact with him during the height of his creative development of Aikido. They studied and trained under his direction and in the company of many of the greatest exponents of the art, including Doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba, Kisaburo Osawa, Hiroshi Tada, Sadateru Arikawa and Seigo Yamaguchi Senseis.

Beginning in the early 1960's they left Japan and moved abroad to teach the Aikido they had learned from O-Sensei. They became the pioneers and driving forces behind the tremendous international growth of Aikido throughout North and South America, Western and Eastern Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Africa and the Middle East. In spite of their physical separation, they have maintained a close association with Aikikai Hombu Dojo and each other for a period of over 40 years.

These Shihan are the bearers of a unique and important part of O-Sensei's legacy. As a group they profoundly reflect the creatively individual nature of Aikido, having each cultivated their own understanding of Aikido from their personal experiences as direct students of O-Sensei. This is reflected in their daily lives, in their own research and in their teachings of Aikido's most fundamental principles and practices. In spite of their individualities, they share a deep devotion to Aikido's spiritual and technical integrity and an unwavering sense of purpose in their never-ending study of this art.

Aikido Online has been created to be an information center that taps into this invaluable resource: the art of Aikido as learned and experienced by these Shihan. It is our intention, as their students and as recipients of their legacy, to make Aikido Online a place where their accumulated knowledge and insight is made available and is shared with all those interested in the art of Aikido. We also want Aikido Online to be an interactive forum, where knowledge, viewpoints and ideas can be exchanged, and where understanding and communication can expand. In short, we want Aikido Online to be a unique resource for the continuing growth of this special lineage of O-Sensei's Aikido.

Yoshimitsu Yamada Sensei

yoshimitsu yamada sensei

8th Dan, Shihan

USAF Chairman

Born in 1938, Yamada Sensei started his Aikido career as an uchi deshi at Hombu Dojo in 1956.

He was the first Shihan to reside permanently in the United States, moving to New York in 1964 as chief instructor of New York Aikikai. He was a key figure in the spread of Aikido throughout North and South America.

He is currently a Technical Director and the Chairman of the USAF, a Technical Director of the CAF and of the FLA, and a member of the Superior Council of the IAF. He has a worldwide following, and travels continuously teaching seminars throughout the United States, Canada, Latin America and Europe.

Nobuyoshi Tamura

tamura sensei

8th Dan, Shihan

Head of the Federation Francais d'Aikido et de Budo

Born in 1933. Tamura Sensei became an uchi deshi at the Aikikai in 1953. He was O-Sensei's favorite uke, accompanying the Founder on numerous demonstrations as well as on his only visit to the United States in Hawaii in 1961.

He moved to Marseilles, France, in 1964 as an official representative of the Aikikai. He has been the major influence in the enormous growth of Aikido in both Western and Eastern Europe.

He is the Aikido Technical Director in numerous European countries and federations and an original member of the Superior Council of the IAF. He conducts seminars throughout the world on a continuous basis.

Akira Tohei Sensei

tohei sensei

8th Dan, Shihan

Chief Instructor of Midwest Aikido Center (1972-1999)

Born in 1929, Tohei Sensei began practicing Aikido in 1946 under the direction of the founder, Morihei Ueshiba.

He taught for two years in Hawaii prior to moving permanently to Chicago in 1972 where he founded the Midwest Aikido Center.

He worked tirelessly in the development of Aikido in the United States and internationally. He was the Chairman of the Technical Committee of the USAF and Chairman of the North American Shihankai.

Tohei Sensei passed away in 1999.

T.K. Chiba Sensei

chiba sensei

8th Dan, Shihan

Chairman - Teaching Committee of Birankai International

Born in 1940. Chiba Sensei became an Aikikai uchi deshi in 1958.

He moved to Great Britain in 1966 and was instrumental in the development of Aikido in Great Britain and Europe. He returned to Japan in 1975 and served as Secretary of the International Department of Hombu Dojo and became Assistant General Secretary of the International Aikido Federation.

He moved to the United States in 1981 as chief instructor of the San Diego Aikikai. Currently acts as Chairman of the Teaching Committee of the USAF Western Region, Technical Director of the United Kingdom Aikikai and Technical Director of the Tessokai Iaido Institute.

Mitsunari Kanai Sensei

kanai sensei

8th Dan, Shihan

Chief Instructor of New England Aikikai (1966-2004)

Born in 1938. Kanai Sensei entered the Aikikai in 1958 as an uchi deshi at Hombu Dojo.

He came to the United States in 1966 and subsequently founded the New England Aikikai. He was instrumental in the early development of Aikido in the United States and Canada. He taught seminars widely throughout the United States, Canada and Europe.

He was one of the founders and a Technical Director of both the USAF and the CAF.

Kanai Sensei passed away on March 28, 2004.

Seiichi Sugano Sensei

sugano sensei

8th Dan, Shihan

New York Aikikai

Technical Director - Australia & Belgium

Born in 1939. Sugano Sensei entered the Aikikai around 1957 and became an uchi deshi about one year later.

He moved to Australia in 1965 to teach Aikido. He pioneered the spread of Aikido in both Australia and New Zealand before moving to Belgium to instruct in Europe in 1979.

He currently resides in the United States and teaches at New York Aikikai with Yamada Sensei. He periodically conducts Aikido seminars worldwide.

Ichiro Shibata Sensei

shibata sensei

7th Dan, Shihan

Aikido Shibata Juku

Born in 1950. Shibata Sensei began practicing Aikido at the age of 16 and became an Aikikai uchi deshi in the early 1970's.

He instructed at Hombu Dojo and at various universities prior to moving to California in 1989 to become chief instructor of Berkeley Aikikai.

He has held many key techincal positions in the United States Aikido Federation. He regularly conducts seminars around the United States and internationally.

Yutaka Kurita Sensei

kurita sensei

7th Dan, Shihan

Director of Kurita Juku Aiki

Born in 1940. Kurita Sensei started training in Aikido in 1958 and became an uchi deshi in 1959. He was a devoted student of O-Sensei and remained with him at Hombu Dojo until the founder passed away in 1969.

He moved to Mexico in 1979 where he began teaching Aikido in Mexico City.

He has taught frequent seminars throughout Mexico and the United States.

Yukio Kawahara Sensei

kawahara sensei

8th Dan, Shihan

Chief Instructor of British Columbia Aikido Federation

Born in 1940. Kawahara Sensei began his Aikido training at age 17 in Osaka under Bansen Tanaka Shihan, who was a disciple of the Founder.

He moved to Montreal, Canada, in 1975 to teach Aikido and subsequently settled in Vancouver two years later. He is the Chief Instructor of the Vancouver Aikikai and of the British Columbia Aikido Federation and a Technical Director of the CAF.

He regularly teaches seminars across Canada, Mexico the United States and Japan.