About Y. Kawahara Shihan

Professor Y. Kawahara, Shihan, 8th dan

Kawahara Sensei was born in 1940 in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. He began his Aikido training at the age of 17 in Osaka, and was uchideshi under Bansen Tanaka Shihan, an early disciple of Aikido Founder, Ueshiba Morihei.

Kawahara Sensei was an assistant instructor at Osaka Aikikai from 1961 to 1972 and became one of the senior disciples of Tanaka Bansen Shihan. He was dispatched by Tanaka Shihan to Taiwan in 1972 and served as resident instructor at Taiwan aikikai through 1973. In 1973, Kawahara Sensei returned to Osaka Aikikai where he became assistant instructor under Tanaka Bansen Shihan. Kawahara Sensei also taught at various university Aikido dojo in the Kansai area of Japan and served as Shihan at Okayama Aikikai from 1975-1976.

Kawahara Sensei moved to Montreal, Canada in 1975 at the invitation of F.I. Ishiyama. In 1977, he was promoted to the rank of 6th dan and Shihan and relocated to Vancouver, BC to become the official representative of Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Canada.

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Master Y. Kawahara
Shihan, 8th Dan
August 14, 1940 - June 2, 2011

Kawahara Shihan was a member of the North American Shihankai, a group of Hombu-dispatched Shihan to North America, consisting of: Y. Yamada, A. Tohei, T.K. Chiba, M. Kanai, S. Sugano, Y. Kawahara, Y. Kurita, and I. Shibata and also N. Tamura in Europe.

Kawahara Shihan travelled extensively, teaching Aikido throughout Canada, the United States, Mexico, Japan and Europe. He was known for a traditional approach to Aikido and his powerful technique. His teaching approach placed great emphasis on basic technique, correct posture, precision & accuracy in training. He held the rank of 8th Dan and Shihan from Aikikai Hombu Dojo (Aikido World Headquarters), in Tokyo, Japan.

Kawahara Shihan passed away peacefully in Victoria on June 2, 2011, after years of battling cancer. Kawahara Shihan dedicated his entire life to Aikido and was held in great respect and affection by all who knew him. He will be deeply missed by his students in the Aikido community.