Upside Down Inside Out

Early 1991. It had been a long day of training in the Fairmount dojo. Christmas and New Year behind us and the regimen in full swing. Life as an Uchi Deshi had begun a few months ago. Dinner was finished and everyone had gone home and the younger Deshi in bed. The perfect time to be alone. The hustle and noise of people gone, the dojo kitchen mine for now. I decided early into the teacher training program to take notes. I am not even sure what I was writing about when Chiba Sensei walked in. He wanted to ask for my help about something, apologising for interrupting me. Before I could even close the note book he said

Ismail Hasan Sensei began his Aikido training in 1977 in London, England. After seeing Chiba Sensei during a UK Summer Camp he decided to continue his training in the USA and moved to San Diego, California in 1985. He became a full time student under TK Chiba Sensei 8th Dan, head teacher of the San Diego Aikikai and a direct student of Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido.

In 1988 he became Chief Instructor of Southwestern Aikikai and responsible for the dojos in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico. He resumed training with TK Chiba Sensei as an Uchi Deshi or “live in student” in 1990, until his return to London in 1993. He also trained in Muso Shinden Ryu Iaido under the supervision of the late Takeshi Mitsuzuka Shihan.

Ismail Hasan Sensei eventually established his own Dojo, Aikido of London in 1994. The dojo has grown in membership and quality allowing the development of a substantial body of senior students. Hasan Sensei has attracted an international crowd of beginners and seniors alike who are keen to further their understanding in Aikido and Iaido. Hasan Sensei's own experience is extensive and gained while training in the US, UK and beyond. The direct line of transmission of Aikido from his experience as Uchi Deshi and his own understanding in training over several decades gives him a unique perspective as a teacher.