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 instructor of Yoshinkan Aikido in the world. He has been practicing Aikido for over 30 years, and Japanese martial arts for nearly 40 years. Throughout his decades of Aikido practice he has attended numerous training seminars taught by many of the most prominent Yoshinkan instructors in the world; including, direct students of Gozo Shioda, the founder of Yoshinkan Aikido.
Assistant Instructors
Masao Imai
Yoshinkan Aikido 5th Dan
Masao Imai started his Aikido journey at the Aikikai headquarters (hombu) dojo in Tokyo, Japan. He began training in Yoshinkan Aikido under Kimeda Shihan in Toronto when he immigrated to Canada. He subsequently returned to Japan, and trained at the Yoshinkai Honbu (headquarters) dojo in Tokyo under Inoue Shihan (9th Dan) and Chida Shihan (8th Dan) for many years. After retiring, he returned to Canada, and now shares his numerous training insights and experience with members of Aikido Yoshinkai Ottawa.
Denis Chartrand
Yoshinkan Aikido 4th Dan
Denis Chartrand is a student of Kimeda Shihan. He has worked and resided in Japan. He teaches Yoshinkan Aikido in two Ottawa area high schools. In 2018, he travelled to Japan and trained at the Yoshinkan headquarters (hombu) dojo. He has also attended numerous training seminars taught by some of the most prominent Yoshinkan instructors in the world.
Naoko Tanaka
Yoshinkan Aikido 2nd Dan
Naoko (Nana) Tanaka is a student of de Groot Sensei. She also has extensive experience training under Kimeda Shihan, and has attended several training clinics given by some of the most senior Yoshinkan Shihan in the world. In 2018, she travelled to Japan and trained in Tokyo and Kyoto.
