"‘Shihan’ or ‘Master Instructor’ is the highest honourific title in Aikido. This title is granted by the Aikikai Foundation (Hombu Dojo) at the request of a recognized organization such as the CAF, and it applies only within the organization. A ‘Shihan’ is an Aikidoka of at least 6th Dan, who has been at that rank for a minimum of 6 years, and who has been a shidoin for at least two years." https://canadianaikidofederation.ca/shihanshidoin/
Pat Olson, 5th dan, shidoin, moves from BC to Saskatchewan
Pat with Yumi Nakamura, 7th dan, shihan
On May 12th and 13th of this year, Okanagan Aikikai held a seminar to say farewell to their chief instructor Pat Olson, 5th dan, shidoin. Yumi Nakamura, 7th dan, shihan, and Jim Barnes, 6th dan, shihan, came from Toronto as special guest instructors for this event.
Pat Olson has been a moving force in Aikido in BC since she moved here from Saskatoon where her initial Aikido training began under Makoto Ohtsu. After moving to Kelowna, Pat trained with Jobe Groot who opened Okanagan Aikikai and subsequently with Kawahara Shihan and now Osawa Shihan.
At the social even following the seminar, BCAF secretary Jean Lemire gave this heartfelt speech in acknowledgement of Pat’s enormous contribution to all aikidoka in BC:
“I'm here today representing the BCAF executive to pause for a moment and express our immense gratitude for the enormous work you have done, Pat-sensei, for the development of Aikido in BC. Be it your drive to grow aikido in the Okanagan region, your leadership of the CAF camp committees or your devotion to Kawahara sensei and his legacy, you have created so many lasting memories for so many aikido practitioners in BC.
We know you are not retiring from Aikido, and we'll see you at future national camps. But we want you to know we will miss you greatly here in the BCAF.
As you are moving to colder climes we thought we should give you something to keep you warm on those cold Prairie nights and remind you of the heritage you leave in BC.”
We all wish you well as you return to Saskatoon, Pat, and look forward to meeting you on the mats in the future.
New Shidoin for BC - January 2023
The Canadian Aikido Federation is pleased to announce the following shidoin (certified instructor) appointments:
La Fédération Canadienne d'Aïkido a le plaisir d'annoncer les nominations de shidoins suivant:
Alberta Aikido Association
• Tom Wilson, godan, Edmonton Aikikai
• Raoul Dub, yondan, BigRock Aikikai
BC Aikido Federation
• Ramin Arvin, godan, Vancouver West Aikikai
• Grant Babin, yondan, Aikidaily
Ontario Aikido Federation
• Gabe DiMarco, godan, Aikido Shugyo
• Robert Fudge, godan, Aikido Tendokai
• John Malais, godan, Aikido Seishinkai
Check our Shihan and Shidoin page here for short bios of all these dedicated instructor members of the BCAF.
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"Aiki is not a technique to fight with or defeat the enemy. It is the way to reconcile the world and make human beings one family."
