Also known as

石坂ハリー

Description

American aikido teacher, founder of the Orange County Aikikai (first as the Westminster Aikido School in 1964) and its chief instructor until his early death. An early instructor in the Orange County, California area, he contributed greatly to the development of aikido in Southern California. He trained under Koichi Tohei, who supported him in founding the Orange County Aiki Kai; he was affiliated with the Ki Society for a period before becoming independent. He had risen to the rank of godan (5th dan) by the time of his death and was the first aikido teacher of Steven Seagal.

Teachers (1)

• 
  Koichi Tohei

  sports_martial_artsAikidō Probable

  Probable

  Wikipedia states Ishisaka trained in California under Koichi Tohei, was one of Tohei's students, and that Tohei supported him in founding the Orange County Aiki Kai

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  location_onOrange County Aikikai badge (1964–1977)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Wikipedia states Ishisaka trained in California under Koichi Tohei, was one of Tohei's students, and that Tohei supported him in founding the Orange County Aiki Kai

  “trained in California under Koichi Tohei”

  — Wikipedia contributors. Harry Kiyoshi Ishisaka - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)link history info

  “Koichi Tohei supported Ishisaka in founding the Orange County Aiki Kai dojo”

  — Wikipedia contributors. Harry Kiyoshi Ishisaka - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)link history info

Lineage

• Aikidō Koichi Tohei ← Ueshiba Morihei · 2 generations

Ranks (1)

• sports_martial_artsAikidō

  military_tech5 dan Probable

  Probable

  Wikipedia states Ishisaka had risen to the rank of godan (5th dan) by the time of his death in January 1978; exact promotion date unknown

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  Dan-Kyu System (1977~)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Wikipedia states Ishisaka had risen to the rank of godan (5th dan) by the time of his death in January 1978; exact promotion date unknown

  “He had risen to the rank of godan by the time of his death”

  — Wikipedia contributors. Harry Kiyoshi Ishisaka - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)link history info

Students (1)

• 
  Steven Seagal

  sports_martial_artsAikidō Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Aikido Journal and Wikipedia both identify Ishisaka as Seagal's first aikido teacher at the Orange County Aikikai

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  location_onOrange County Aikikai badge (1970–1974)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  3 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Aikido Journal and Wikipedia both identify Ishisaka as Seagal's first aikido teacher at the Orange County Aikikai

  “began practice of aikido in the late 1960s or early 1970's at the Orange County Aikikai in California under Harry ISHISAKA”

  — Josh Gold. (2011). Steven Seagal - Aikido Journal. Aikido Journallink history info

  “First aikido teacher of Steven SEAGAL”

  — Josh Gold. (2011). Harry Ishisaka 石坂ハリー - Aikido Journal. Aikido Journallink history info

  “Perhaps his best known pupil was Steven Seagal, who began studying under Ishisaka as a teenager in the mid-1960s”

  — Wikipedia contributors. Harry Kiyoshi Ishisaka - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)link history info

Sources

Identifiers