Non-Japanese Shihans?
 

Does anyone know how many official non-Japanese shihans the Aikikai has? If you happen to know the names of these fine folks that'd be cool too :D

Thanks,

Bronson

p.s. Is there an English language web-page for Aikikai Hombu that lists such things?

Re: Non-Japanese Shihans?
 

Here's some...

http://aikidojournal.com/forums/view...ghlight=biraki

...haven't seen announcements since these...

Also--

http://aikidojournal.com/forums/view...ghlight=biraki

http://aikidojournal.com/forums/view...ghlight=biraki

Re: Non-Japanese Shihans?
 

Only three Europeans I know are:

Christian Tissier 7th Dan France
Ken Cottier 6th Dan England
William Smith M.B.E. 6th Dan England

Re: Non-Japanese Shihans?
 

I'm assuming you mean Aikikai Foundation recognized Shihans.

Frank Doran and Robert Nadeau of the CAA are Shihans.

Bill Witt was also made a Shihan and I believe his new organization, the TAA, is recognized by Hombu, so I assume that he still retains the title.

The USAF-East website's seminar calendar now lists, to my surprise, four US teachers as Shihan: Claude Berthiaume, Peter Bernath, Donovan Waite and Harvey Konigsberg. Claude and Harvey were promoted to 7th Dan recently, while Peter and Donovan are 6th Dans. I'm surprised because I've seen no general announcement about this. Since the people who put up the calendar are careful about titles, I must assume that they are Hombu recognized Shihans.

I've had to use "assume" three times here because there's no real source online which gives any official list.

Jim Baker
Aikido of Norfolk

Re: Non-Japanese Shihans?
 

Yes, all four of those folks were recently promoted to shihan.
Gaia

Re: Non-Japanese Shihans?
 

Also, in the USAF-W, Lorraine DiAnne was promoted to shihan last year.

Re: Non-Japanese Shihans?
 

>Also, in the USAF-W, Lorraine DiAnne was promoted to shihan last year.<

Was that a Hombu Shihan license or one issued only by the Birankai?

Re: Non-Japanese Shihans?
 

Re: Non-Japanese Shihans?

I assume the Shihan certification given by the AikiKai Foundation Hombu Dojo Japan.
I assume a certified designated "Shihan" has to be recommendation of a Certified Representative of Hombu Dojo or affiliated Organization the AikiKai Foundation has appointed a Representative in the United States as a example. If the Aiki foundation did not announce these Non- Japanese Shihan designation it could be a outside of Japan posting system. If the Aiki Web, as a starting point could resolve this question. It could help the members of this Aiki Web forum resolve this Shihan question. The Aikikai Foundation will recognize the "Aiki Web" as a point of information to all Aikido students all over the world. And will help to resolve this question or direct you to the individual in charge of the Shihan certification.

Re: Non-Japanese Shihans?
 

Is anyone aware of a website or printed version of Aikido Shimbun in English? I think I saw on one of the sites it was called The Aikido but I cannot find it anyware. Or even a translated resource to Aikido Shimbun would work as well.

Re: Non-Japanese Shihans?
 

IIRC, Harvey was officially promoted to SHIHAN by Honbu; I haven't heard that the others were. I heard that Kanai designated Claude heir apparent, but this was local, not Honbu.

Re: Non-Japanese Shihans?
 

The printed on paper publication "The Aikido" is no longer being published, but the Aikikai webpage has an English portion, which can be read at:

http://www.aikikai.or.jp/Eng/index.htm

There is no translated to English version of the Aikido Shimbun put out by the Aikikai, though portions of it are sometimes translated and put on the English webpage.

Lisa Tomoleoni

Re: Non-Japanese Shihans?
 

Ummm...My sensei (Peter Bernath) has been promoted to Shihan??? ~scratches head~~ He hasn't told anyone. I need a little talk with him. ;)

Re: Non-Japanese Shihans?
 

Claude was promoted to shihan in January 2004 by Honbu Aikikai. Want to see his cert? Come to the dojo ;)

Re: Non-Japanese Shihans?
 

Cool!

I knew both Claude and Harvey were promoted to 7th Dan, but I hadn't heard that they'd been sent Shihan certificates yet. I didn't know about Peter Bernath either, but then again, neither did Ann Marie from his own dojo. No one at the USAF summer camp mentioned any of this either. That's why I've been cautious about just saying that Hombu has named them as Shihans. I do consider the USAF's own events calendar as "official"; well, "official" enough for me.

Has anyone from the other Hombu recognized organizations in the US heard of Shihan promotions in their groups. ASU? AAA? PAF?

Jim Baker
Aikido of Norfolk

Re: Non-Japanese Shihans?
 

Thanks for the clarification, Szczepan. I'm glad to hear it. Claude is a great player, I've really enjoyed my time on the mat with him. I don't think Peter can be far behind...

Re: Non-Japanese Shihans?
 

Thanks for all the input so far.

Bronson

Re: Non-Japanese Shihans?
 

Hi Lisa,

Ohisashiburi desu. Hope you are well.

rgds

Bryan

Re: Non-Japanese Shihans?
 

I'm not quite sure but I think i've read somewhere that Ulf Evenå from Sweden was announced to be shihan some years ago. That's in Iwama ryu I think. Mind you this is unsubstantiated rumors from the murky debths of my scatterede memory.... :D

Re: Non-Japanese Shihans?
 

He's not. I just confirmed with Penny. It's true. He's shihan, now.

Re: Non-Japanese Shihans?
 

Cool! Give him my congratulations. He runs a great dojo.

Re: Non-Japanese Shihans?
 

Great News!!!!! :)

Please, if you see Sensei BERNATH in these days, send him our congratulations from SAKANASHI Sensei and all his students of the Centro de Difusion del Aikido in Argentina.

Has he been promoted to nanadan, too?

Re: Non-Japanese Shihans?
 

Tell him: "Go Dink! Go Dink!!"

He'll understand.

Jim Baker
Aikido of Norfolk

Re: Non-Japanese Shihans?
 

Major congrats!!!!!

..........hey, I'll congratulate him personally, on Kanai Sensei Memorial Seminar in Boston in March, he is supposed to conduct some practice, I believe.....

Re: Non-Japanese Shihans?
 

From what I understand on this issue, certain organizations within the Aikikai "umbrella" have issued the title of "shihan" to persons within their organizations. Also, Aikikai itself has also issued "official" titles of "shihan" to people as well.

There is an increasing number of non-Japanese shihan recognized by Aikikai, some of whom have been named above. I think this is a long over-due move on the part of the Aikikai, but it's good news, nonetheless.

And, for the subject of organizations with the Aikikai giving out their own "shihan" title, I think that's up to them to decide.

I havent't seen any sort of official announcement on the recent kagaki biraki promotions (either for rank or for title) from Aikikai hombu dojo yet, neither on their English nor Japanese language. If Peter Goldsbury is reading this (or Lisa is she has the time), maybe he could let us know if such an official announcement were made by Aikikai (either on the website or otherwise) that it could be made public here on AikiWeb?

-- Jun

Re: Non-Japanese Shihan?
 

Jun,
Thanks for following up on this posting on :Non-Japanese Shihan?. I am sure allot of the reader of this forum. would like some answer's. And if Mr. Goldsbury or Lisa has the time to follow up. I for one would appreciate their individual efforts on this subject. This Shihan issue has been a topic of decision for many years. It's just a title, Lets not make it more than it is. I doesn't make this person better than you or I . We are all human beings. Let's just concentrate on one's own individual training. Leave the politics to the politicians.