Tony Hind Shihan - Technical Director, Canadian Aikido Association
The last foreign kenshusei to live at Hombu Dojo under the tutelage of the founder's son, Kisshomaru Ueshiba Doshu
In the video above author Bill Gillespie talks about his time at Hombu Dojo including training with Tony and a link at the end to a Aikido Italia Network interview with Bill Gillespie, discussing training at Hombu - The Training Culture at the Aikikai Hombu Dōjō
Originally from Vancouver Aikikai, Tony attended the first B.C. Summer Camp in New Denver, B.C. as a teenager in 1979.
Tony was the last foreign kenshusei to both live at Hombu Dojo and receive direct training from the Founder's son and successor Doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba and was honored to be chosen to assist Kisshomaru Doshu in demonstrations both in and outside of Hombu Dojo.
Tony also took ukemi for Osawa Sensei (Senior) during his Thursday morning class. Tony was humbled to practice as a training partner with Tamura, Yamada, Chiba, Sugano and Shibata Senseis and most of the current Hombu Shihan. He also travelled to Iwama to clean and help prepare for the Aiki Taisai (Aiki Shrine Festival) held every April 29th to commemorate the Founder's passing, and during his overnight stay there, practiced twice at private classes taught by Saito Sensei (Senior) to his senior students and Hombu Shihan.
Tony participated in the All-Japan Aikido Demonstration as Uke for Miyamoto (May 92 & 96) & Fujita (May 95) Shihan, and is the only foreigner to appear at the Embukai with 2 different Hombu Shihan. He has also assisted at the All-Japan Children's Aikido Training Meet at the Budokan. He travelled overseas accompanying the current Doshu, Moriteru Ueshiba, as well as other Hombu Shihan, including Yamada, Masuda, Ichihashi, Fujita and Miyamoto Senseis. At the request of Hombu Dojo, Tony appeared on television, in magazines and was a guest speaker on a radio station. Tony founded Pacific Aikido in Japan and for over twenty years taught at his seven Aikido dojos in Tokyo and Yokohama.
He also taught Canadian Embassy and military personnel at private classes in Shinjuku, in addition to instructing American military and FBI personnel at the U.S. Embassy compound in Tokyo.
As a Canadian, Tony considers himself very honored to have never been required to test for kyu or dan ranks. Tony received by recommendation all of his shodan through nanadan promotions directly from Kisshomaru Doshu, Moriteru Doshu and Miyamoto Shihan.
In January 2022 Tony Hind was promoted to the rank of 7th Dan. In April 2022, Tony was also given the title of Shihan for the Canadian Aikido Association. The Examination Committee for Appointment of Shihan, at a meeting held in Aikido World Headquarters on April 14, 2022, appointed Tony Hind the honorific title of Shihan. This shows his qualification as "an Aikido instructor of the highest rank".
