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Cecil Paris

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Cecil Paris

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Biographical Summary

  • Started aikido with Richard Ostrofsky Sensei at Downtown YMCA in Montreal. Then became a student at Ishiyama Sensei’s Aikido Kensankai Dojo (at Shidokan School of Martial Arts in Montreal) for two years before Ishiyama Sensei invited Kawahara Sensei to Canada to take over his dojo and start promoting aikido in Canada.
  • Assisted Ishiyama Sensei in preparing immigration papers and making necessary living arrangements for Kawahara Sensei in 1976. Played a significant role in helping Kawahara Sensei settle and feel at home in Canada. Followed him to Vancouver in 1978, studied closely with him as his master teacher at Vancouver Aikikai (at Renfrew Community Centre).
  • Taught aikido in Abbotsford in the 1980s, later opened New Westminster Aikikai while continuing his study with Kawahara Sensei for many years. Promoted to shodan in 1977 then successively attained other ranks, becoming 6th dan in 2007.
  • Participated in various public demonstrations with Kawahara Sensei, travelling with him widely and developing a close friendship. Attended all BC and CAF summer camps taught by Kawahara Sensei, remaining one of his most loyal and dedicated students for 35 years until the latter’s passing in 2011.

Accomplishments/Contributions

  • Practiced and taught aikido for over 40 years. Assisted and worked closely with Kawahara Sensei for over three decades. Often invited to instruct at seminars and summer camps in BC. Was a regular guest instructor at annual spring and fall seminars hosted by Ishiyama Sensei in Vancouver and participated in kyu and dan tests for over three decades. Highly respected for his powerful and graceful aikido and his tireless dedication to his students and Kawahara Sensei’s mission of promoting aikido in Canada.
  • Travelled with Kawahara Sensei to Osaka and Tokyo (including meetings with Doshu), participated in aikido classes and a demonstration led by Kawahara Sensei while in Japan.
  • A founding member of the British Columbia Aikido Federation, assisted Ishiyama Sensei in developing and formally establishing the BCAF in 1984 with Kawahara Sensei as its official technical director. Totally committed to expanding the BCAF and solidifying Kawahara Sensei’s leadership role in BC and across Canada. Played a significant role in Kawahara Sensei being recognized and honoured as a true traditional master of aikido in Canada and around the world.
  • Invited to become a founding member of the CAF Examination Committee in 2012, served as a valued member for seven years until semi-retirement. His supportive contribution over the years was highly recognized and appreciated by all committee members.

Personal Philosophy

  • Thoroughly adept at the basic forms, often taught well beyond the basics with high expectations of inculcating students with the essence of aikido.
  • It is essential that uke react instantly and instinctively, reading nage’s intent. Aikido at its best relies on very natural movements; uke should not experience any force but still sense nage’s ki dominating the situation. This way uke will also react in a fluid and natural manner without resistance.
  • Through dedicated training and practice on and off the mat, in weapons and in aikido forms, one develops the essence of aikido.
  • His focus and awareness of everything around him was phenomenal. Projecting a very natural but exceptional martial presence, he could thus master every situation.