Robert Mustard Shihan, 8th dan
Aikido Yoshinkai Burnaby
Robert Mustard Shihan is the chief instructor of Aikido Yoshinkai Burnaby. With over 40 years in aikido, Mustard Shihan is known for his inspiring teaching, powerful techniques and unexpected gentle touch. He started aikido in Toronto, and then went to Japan as a 3rd degree black belt to train at the Yoshinkan Aikido Honbu (head quarters); training under the founder of this style, Soke Gozo Shioda, and his 2 top students, Takafumi Takeno Sensei, 9th Dan; and Tsutomu Chida Sensei, 8th Dan.
Today, he is a highly regarded and sought after teacher, he dedicates his time to his students in Burnaby and teaching seminars across Canada and internationally, furthering the ideals of strong yoshinkan aikido and budo.
Ishu Ishiyama Shihan, 7th dan
Vancouver West Aikikai
Ishiyama Shihan, is the Chief Instructor of Vancouver West Aikikai. Originally from Osaka, Japan, he has studied Aikido since 1968 with master teachers, including Bansen Tanaka (Osaka Aikikai), Kanai, Kawahara, Yamada, Tohei, and Chiba Shihans, and more recently Tada Shihan in Japan. He has been teaching Aikido in Canada since 1973. He is interested in fostering personal and spiritual development among his students and creating a mature dojo community while pursuing intense martial awareness and technical accuracy in training.
Jobe Groot, Shidoin, 6th dan
Mountain Coast Aikikai
Jobe Groot sensei has been studying Aikido for over 40 years and trained intensively with Ishu Ishiyama Shihan, 7th dan, Yukio Kawahara Shihan, 8th dan and with Kazuo Chiba Shihan, 8th dan.
He has been teaching Aikido since the early 1980’s and founded Mountain Coast Aikikai in 1991, where he has served as chief instructor for more than 27 years. He serves as a member of the Senior Council, the Teachers’ Council and Examination Committee of Birankai North America.
Groot sensei is focused on helping students cultivate martial awareness, self-understanding and community connection, through the practice of Japanese martial arts and related disciplines – specifically Aikido, Aiki-weapons, Japanese swordsmanship, and mind-body integration practices. He is known for his emphasis on technical rigor, intensity and aliveness, combining principles of dynamic movement, centering, connection and responsiveness into each aspect of training.
