Bob Moline Sensei, 6th dan, previously trained in judo and karate before beginning his aikido training in the spring 1979 under the direction of Ishiyama Shihan at the age of 35. His experience with other martial arts both hindered and helped his conversion to aikido. The aikido philosophy and the nature of the physical training were new to him and he was amazed to find that his dojo training improved his life off the mats as well.

Moline Sensei believes that his training in aikido has made him a much better person than he would have been capable of becoming if he had not started training in the art.

Moline Sensei is very familiar with the challenges of operating a small dojo, having been the chief instructor of Dryden Aikikai in Ontario from 1990-2005. He currently holds the rank of 6th dan and is a member of the CAF’s Examination Committee.

Pat Olson Sensei, 6th dan, began her aikido training with Makoto Ohtsu Sensei in 1981 at the University of Saskatchewan Aikido club in Saskatoon (now Saskatoon Aikikai).  In March, 1982, Pat Sensei attended her first seminar taught by Kawahara Sensei; she subsequently became used to Kawahara Sensei’s traditional way of teaching and devoted her aikido life and training to Kawahara Sensei after Ohtsu Sensei went back to Japan in 1986. This same year, she moved to Kelowna BC and joined Okanagan Aikikai, where she continued to learn from Kawahara Sensei. Pat Sensei received her shodan from Kawahara Sensei in 1993 and has since remained the senior instructor in Kelowna.

Pat Sensei has found that her journey in aikido is a never-ending journey full of challenges and rewards, but most of all delightful camaraderie.  

Ramin Arvin Sensei, 5th dan, started Aikido at the Central YMCA (Shugyo Dojo) in Toronto with Fran Turner Sensei. Later he became a live-in student (uchideshi) with Donavan Waite Sensei. Ramin Sensei co-founded Naka Ima Aikikai in Toronto. Currently he trains at Vancouver West Aikikai (VWA) under Ishiyama Shihan, and is the VWA-dispatched instructor for the New Westminster dojo (VWA’s branch dojo).

Ramin Sensei enjoys teaching and practicing in the BCAF community, pursuing similar goals in practice with same-minded people. For him, Aikido is about contact, continuous growth, and learning. In aikido, we fall down and get up again, make mistakes and adjust. The dojo is a laboratory space to explore how to use the body efficiently, with minimal effort, to establish awareness in the body and mind.

Credit the photo to Russ Gorman (c) 2022

Grant Babin Sensei, 4th dan, In 1997 officially began training at the Gathering Place Aikikai in Vancouver under the direction of Michael Saint Germain Sensei. In addition, he began training with Tony Hind Shihan from 2003 and continues to train with him regularly to this day.

Babin Sensei opened his first dojo in 2005 on Thetis Island, BC and began overseeing the direction of the Saltspring Aikido club in 2008.

In 2010 he first moved to Japan to train at the Aikikai world headquarters and teach children’s classes at multiple locations in and around Tokyo.  Over the following 6 years, he spent 4 and a half years teaching and training intensively in Japan while offering direction to the Thetis Island club. At the world headquarters, he received daily instruction from some of the leading instructors of the world including Hayato Osawa Shihan, the technical director of the Canadian Aikido Federation and was a close student of Kanazawa Shihan of Hombu dojo.

In 2016 he returned to Canada permanently and opened Aikidaily International Academy in Squamish, BC. To this day he still travels to teach and train and offers guidance to the Saltspring Island Aikido club. He continues to grow in his understanding of aikido and all of its principles.

Jim Redding Sensei, 3rd dan, started training in aikido at the Okanagan Aikikai in Kelowna in early 2001 under the direction of Kawahara Shihan.  In addition to training in aikido, he has also trained in both Judo and Jujitsu.

In 2006, Kawahara Shihan directed Jim to open the Summerland Aikikai dojo in Summerland, BC offering classes to students 5 years and above. 

Jim Sensei received his Sandan from Osawa Shihan in 2022.  At present he teaches and trains at the Summerland dojo on Mondays and Thursdays.

Jim Cryderman, has been studying, practicing and teaching different styles of martial arts for 47 years. The last 27 have been dedicated to the study of Chinese Internal Martial and Healing Arts.

Jim’s class will include a series of drills focused on teaching internal release (mentally and physically), which facilitates fluid movement and allows participants to better blend with and influence all internal and external energies, creating more peace, health and wellness.The second part of his class will include partner drills related to sensing energy.

Sharon Neufeld is a retired registered massage therapist who continues to work in the healing arts, as she has been doing for over 30 years. She owns and works at the Forest House Wellness Centre in Clearwater, BC, where she also teaches biodynamic gardening, herbalism and wildcrafting, as well as reiki and somatics. An advocate for wellness, she practices yoga, tai chi, qigong, and somatika. She has studied these disciplines with several teachers who have come to Clearwater over the years, including Jim Cryderman, Susan Dubois, and Jim Hetzler, and she continues to expand her learning through online resources.

Liane Culp is the Program Coordinator for the District of Clearwater’s Recreation, Culture, and Events Department. She values community development, involvement, and growth through connection and experience. Liane’s passion is to help inspire individuals to transform how they participate in their lives, so that they can create more awareness and connect with purpose. She has always connected well with people and has a strong desire to serve humanity through her community. Liane is honest, compassionate, empathetic, driven, curious, and is always striving to expand her knowledge.