Shawnigan Lake Aikikai

Shawnigan Lake Aikikai was well-represented in the special seminar at UVic! Great work everyone!

Thank you to all members of our Aikido community who came together for a special seminar on Jan 17 at UVic to celebrate the milestone of 50 years since Aikido was first introduced to Victoria by Gary Mols Sensei. The seminar featured instruction by Ishu Ishiyama Shihan, 7 dan (Vancouver West Aikikai). Gary Mols Sensei made a special guest appearance to receive an award of appreciation for his role in establishing Aikido as an activity under UVic Athletics and Recreation in the Fall of 1975. Special memories and a sampling of favourite techniques were also shared by Senseis Scott Macphail, 7 dan (Victoria Aikikai), Hilary Dawson, 6 dan (UVic Aikido Club), Bruce Riddick, 6 dan (Vancouver West Aikikai), John Petersen, 6 dan (Shawnigan Lake Aikikai), Tony Leong, 5 dan (Victoria Aikikai) and Martin Moreau, 4 dan (Rock Water Aikikai).

Top photo left to right: Hilary Dawson, Scott Macphail, Gary Mols, Ishu Ishiyama, and John Petersen. Bottom photo: Seminar participants on Jan 17. More photos to come soon!

Upcoming Seminar on Jan 17th in Victoria

Please join us on Saturday, January 17th for a one-day seminar celebrating 50 years of Aikido in Victoria! The seminar will be held at the University of Victoria in the CARSA facility (same location as Summer Camp 2025) and will feature instruction by Ishiyama Shihan.

Schedule:
11:00 - 11:45 am Warmup Class
Noon - 1:00 pm Class with Ishiyama Shihan
1:15 - 2:15 pm Class with Ishiyama Shihan
2:30 - 3:45 pm Class with Guest Instructors

Note:
There will be no testing at this seminar

Registration Link (advance registration appreciated; onsite registration also available):
https://forms.zohopublic.com/treasurer2/form/50yearsofAikidoinVictoria17Jan2026withIshiyamaShih/formperma/NpPj7WaXMayAGpz5meW7cQHchi1JOdQJhyzoA3KWyR0

Background:
Aikido was first offered in Victoria by Sensei Gary Mols. He held classes at UVic starting in 1975 and he continued to teach until he passed the teaching role on to Ishiyama Sensei in 1979. Ishiyama Sensei moved to Vancouver in 1986 but he has regularly travelled back to Victoria to support our Aikido community.

To view archival images from the early days of Aikido in Victoria, please check out our page - and feel free to like, follow and share!

We hope to see you at this celebratory event! Please spread the word!