Also known as

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

  linkAikidō 3

  Confirmed

  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

  sports_kabaddiOrange County Aikikai badge (1964-1977)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  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

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "trained in California under Koichi Tohei"

  — Wikipedia contributors. Harry Kiyoshi Ishisaka - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo

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

  — Wikipedia contributors. Harry Kiyoshi Ishisaka - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo

Ranks (1)

• linkAikidō

  military_tech5 dan 2

  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

  Dan-Kyu System (1977~)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  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

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

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

  — Wikipedia contributors. Harry Kiyoshi Ishisaka - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo

Students (1)

• 
  Steven Seagal

  linkAikidō 3

  Confirmed

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

  sports_kabaddiOrange County Aikikai badge (1970-1974)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  3 sources

  fact_check

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

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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 Journallinkinfo

  "First aikido teacher of Steven SEAGAL"

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

  "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)linkinfo

Sources