Chief Instructor: Hans de Groot (5th Dan AYF)
Hans de Groot is the chief instructor of Aikido Yoshinkai Ottawa. He holds the rank of 5th degree black belt with the Aikido Yoshinkai Foundation (AYF) in Tokyo, Japan. He is a student of Takeshi Kimeda Shihan (9th Dan), the most senior teacher of the Yoshinkan Aikido system in the world.
De Groot sensei has participated in numerous training seminars taught by many of Yoshinkan Aikido’s most prominent national and international instructors. He also travelled to Japan with Kimeda Shihan in 2018, and experienced training at the Yoshinkan Hombu (headquarters) Dojo in Tokyo, and at the Mugenjuku Dojo in Kyoto.
De Groot sensei has been practicing Aikido for over 30 years, and has been the Chief Instructor of Aikido Yoshinkai Ottawa for 15 years. He practiced Shotokan Karate in university before joining Aikido Yoshinkai Ottawa in 1994.
Assistant Instructor: Masao Imai (5th Dan AYF)
Masao Imai started his Aikido journey at the Aikikai headquarters (hombu) dojo in Tokyo, Japan. After immigrating to Canada, he began training in Yoshinkan Aikido under Kimeda Shihan in Toronto. He subsequently returned to Japan, and trained at the Yoshinkan Hombu (headquarters) dojo in Tokyo. His instructors at the Hombu were two of the most prominent direct students of Gozo Shioda; Inoue Shihan (9th Dan) and Chida Shihan (8th Dan). He returned to Canada a few years ago, and now shares his numerous training insights and experience with members of Aikido Yoshinkai Ottawa.
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