Vancouver West Aikikai

We’d like to thank all the participants for joining us at the 2026 CAF Summer Camp in Toronto.
The quality of a camp depends not just on having a great instructor like Osawa-sensei, but on having dedicated, enthusiastic participants of all levels on the tatami.
From that point of view, camp was a great success!
Some photos of the classes are available online:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/tjnpgzmRTCERjxDW8
Have a great summer and hope to see you all in Squamish in October.
On behalf of the organizers:
- Aikido Hokuryukai
- Aikido Kensankai
- Aikido Tendokai
- JCCC Aikikai

I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Canadian Aikido Federation for recognizing Yumi Nakamura-shihan's lifetime of commitment to Canadian Aikido with the Kawahara Shihan Award for Outstanding Contribution.

It was an honour for me to receive the award on her behalf from CAF President Steve Erickson at the CAF Summer Camp in Toronto.

Being able to accept it in person in front of so many of her friends and students at Summer Camp was deeply meaningful to me.

I know that Yumi would have been overwhelmed by this recognition and great display of affection.

Below, some students from Aikido Tendokai and Aikido Hokuryukai commemorated the occasion.

Summer camp is here… Osawa-sensei's in town! We took him downtown for a tour of the AGO and lunch before classes start tomorrow.

🥋Instructor Intros d’instructeurs.trices: VALENTINE KABANETS SENSEI, 4. DAN, SHIDOIN🥋

Valentine Kabanets started practicing Aikido at Vancouver West Aikikai in 2005 under Ishiyama Shihan’s guidance and is currently the dojo’s deputy chief instructor. When teaching Aikido classes, Valentine follows the technical direction of Osawa Sensei, with emphasis on maintaining an aligned and relaxed body, connection with your partner, and precision of movement.

📆 Kabanets-sensei teaches a class at camp on Sunday July 5 @ 4:30PM.
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Valentine Kabanets a commencé à pratiquer l’aïkido au Vancouver West Aikikai en 2005 sous la direction d’Ishiyama Shihan et occupe actuellement le poste d’instructeur en chef adjoint du dojo. Lorsqu’il donne ses cours d’aïkido, Valentine suit les principes techniques d’Osawa Sensei, en mettant l’accent sur le maintien d’un corps aligné et détendu, la connexion avec son partenaire et la précision des mouvements.

📆 Kabanets-sensei enseigne un cours au camp le dimanche 5 juillet à 16 h 30.

🥋Instructor Intros d’instructeurs.trices : ISHU ISHIYAMA SHIHAN, 7. DAN 🥋

Ishu Ishiyama Shihan (7th Dan, Shihan) has practiced Aikido since 1968 and taught since 1973. He trained under renowned instructors including Bansen Tanaka Shihan, Seiseki Abe Shihan, Mitsunari Kanai Shihan, and Yutaka Kawahara Shihan, and has also studied with Yoshimitsu Yamada, Kazuo Chiba, Koichi Tohei, André Nocquet Nakazono, and Morihiro Saito Shihans. He has received instruction from both Doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba and Moriteru Ueshiba. Founder of Vancouver West Aikikai and formerly Aikido Kensankai in Montreal, Ishiyama Shihan has led seminars across Canada and serves on the Canadian Aikido Federation Examination Committee.

Ishiyama-sensei is teaching 2x classes at camp:
- Tachidori class on Saturday July 5, 3:15-4:15 PM
- Sunday July 6, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Ishu Ishiyama Shihan (7e dan, Shihan) pratique l’aïkido depuis 1968 et enseigne depuis 1973. Il s’est formé auprès d’instructeurs de renom, notamment Bansen Tanaka Shihan, Seiseki Abe Shihan, Mitsunari Kanai Shihan et Yutaka Kawahara Shihan, et a également étudié avec Yoshimitsu Yamada, Kazuo Chiba, Koichi Tohei, André Nocquet Nakazono et Morihiro Saito Shihan. Il a reçu l’enseignement tant de Doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba que de Moriteru Ueshiba. Fondateur du Vancouver West Aikikai et anciennement de l’Aïkido Kensankai à Montréal, Shihan Ishiyama a animé des séminaires partout au Canada et siège au comité d’examen de la Fédération canadienne d’aïkido.

Ishiyama-sensei enseigne 2x cours au camp:
- Cours d’armes: tachidori - le samedi 4 juillet, 15h15 à 16h15
- Le dimanche 5 juillet, 11h00 à 12h00 (cours taijutsu / régulier)

Just wrapped: the International Aikido Seminar with Osawa-sensei in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. Many thanks to Manolo Garcia and his colleagues for an oustanding event. Shown: Canadian content… six of us were there!

Last weekend JCCC Aikikai hosted the annual Kawahara Shihan Memorial Seminar in Toronto. Ishiyama sensei led practice, along with Jim Barnes sensei, Alex Loo sensei, Rob Carroll sensei, and Adrian Iliescu sensei. Thank you to the organizers, the participants, and the instructors for the successful event!

JCCC Aikikai
Aikido Tendokai
Aikido Hokuryukai - North York Aikido Club
Aikido Kensankai
Kingston Aikikai
Antigonish Aikikai - Aikido

#合気道