Kimeda shihan (9th Dan AYF) is the Chief Instructor of Aikido Yoshinkai Canada and the most senior teacher of Yoshinkan Aikido in the world. He was born in Tokyo in 1941. He began his study of Aikido at Meiji Gakuin University under Takashi Kushida sensei. He became the captain of the university Aikido club. He achieved the rank of 3rd degree black belt by the time of his graduation.
Kimeda sensei arrived in North America shortly after his graduation, and began to lay the foundations of Yoshinkan Aikido on this continent. He later returned to Tokyo and became an uchideshi (lit. “inside student”) at the Hombu (headquarters) Dojo of the Yoshinkan. He trained under the supervision of Gozo Shioda, the founder of Yoshinkan Aikido. He returned to Canada after completing his training, and settled in Toronto.
Kimeda sensei continues to teach Yoshinkan Aikido. He has brought virtually all of the top Yoshinkan instructors to Canada to share their experience with his students. He has also taught hundreds of students to the black belt level. He is considered by many as the father of Yoshinkan Aikido in North America. He continues to be intimately involved with the affiliate dojos of AYC; including, Aikido Yoshinkai Ottawa.