Our Senior Instructors
Scott MacPhail Sensei
Scott Macphail (5th Dan) began his training with Gary Mols Sensei at U-Vic in 1975. The instruction was based on the teachings of Koichi Tohei Sensei and used the 6 basic arts method (practice focused on 6 fundamental techniques). The influence of Kawahara Shihan was first felt in 1977 when he moved to the West Coast. Macphail Sensei was fortunate to be able to attend Kawahara Shihan's first BC Aikido Summer camp in New Denver in 1979. That same year Ishiyama Sensei moved to Victoria and became the Chief Instructor. Macphail Sensei studied directly under him until 1986 when Ishiyama Sensei moved to Vancouver. Since that time Macphail Sensei has been privileged to receive regular guidance from Kawahara Shihan and Ishiyama Sensei. He has attended summer camps and seminars taught by North American Shihan such as Yamada, Kanai, Chiba, Sugano, Shibata, Tohei and instructors from Hombu dojo such as the present Doshu, Fujita, Masuda, Miyamoto and Osawa. For several months he lived in Japan and practised under Tanaka, Saito, Iwata and Lee (Taiwan) Sensei's. He has been the Chief Instructor at Victoria Aikido Centre since 1986.
Portions of this page are under construction.
Bob Moline Sensei
Bob Moline (5th Dan) started aikido in 1979; coincidentally, his first aikido class was also the first aikido class taught by Ishiyama Sensei upon his taking over as Sensei of the Victoria Dojo. In 1986 when Ishiyama Sensei moved to Vancouver, Moline Sensei trained under Scott Macphail Sensei. In 1990 he moved to Dryden Ontario where, with Kawahara Shihan's permission, he started his own dojo. In 2004 he returned to Victoria and again became a student of Macphail Sensei. Each year, since 1979, he has attended seminars and/or summer camps taught by Kawahara Shihan. He has also taken instruction from the USAF Shihan: A. Tohei, Yamada, Kanai, Sugano and Chiba; and the Hombu Shihan: H. Osawa, Fujita, Masuda, Miyamoto, Y. Kobayashi, M. Saito, Suganuma, Seki, and the present Doshu, M. Ueshiba.
Hilary Dawson Sensei
Hilary Dawson (5th Dan)
Ralph Kopperson Sensei
Ralph Kopperson (4th Dan)
John Petersen Sensei
John Petersen (4th Dan) began training under the encouragement of Gary Mols Sensei in 1983. Training out of the Cowichan Community Centre for about a year he switched to Victoria Aikikai after watching a demonstration by Ishiyama Sensei. With the move of Ishiyama Sensei to Vancouver he continued his training under the mentor-ship of Macphail Sensei and Moline Sensei. There was also regular instruction from Kawahara Shihan, Ishiyama Sensei and visiting Shihan from around the world. Since 1996 Petersen Sensei has been the chief instructor of Shawnigan Lake Aikikai, about 30 miles north of Victoria.
Mike Chin Sensei
Mike Chin (4th Dan)
Gail MacPhail Sensei
Gail MacPhail (4th Dan)
George Khouri Sensei
George Khouri (4th Dan)
Chio Woon Sensei
Chio Woon (4th Dan)
Morihei Ueshiba
"If you perceive the true form of heaven and earth, you will be enlightened to your own true form. If you are enlightened about a certain principle, you can put it into practice. After each practical application, reflect on your efforts. Progress continually like this."
Excerpted from The Art of Peace translated by John Stevens.