Instructors

• Sensei D. Laurendeau – Rokkudan
• Eric Kimmel – Nidan
• Juan-Carlos Cruz – Nidan
• Noah Weisbord – Nidan
• Marc Novakoff – Shodan
• Laurent Tantot – Shodan

• Began Aikido in October 1975, at Aikikai de Montréal.
• Attended first Aikido USAF Summer Camp in 1977.
• First involved as Assistant-Instructor for the McGill Aikido Club in 1982.
• Earned black belt, first degree (shodan) in 1983.
• Head Instructor of McGill Aikido in 1984.
• Traveled to Japan with Yamada, Kanai and Tamura Shihans in 1989.
• Obtained black belt, sixth degree (Rokkudan) in September 2007 from Y. Yamada Shihan at Montreal Aikikai’s 40th Anniversary celebration.
• Returns to Japan in 2008 to train at Aikikai Hombu Dojo.

"Sensei Laurendeau believes that any teacher of aikido should keep training as long as possible as an example to students that the art is a life long learning process for all participants. He maintains a regular training schedule at Montreal Aikikai and has attended over twenty seminars in each of the past three years.

McGill Aikido organizes seminars for each of the Fall and Winter semesters and has received prominent teachers such as Massimo di Villadorata, Christian Tissier, Mary Heiny, Dick Stroud, Pat Hendricks, Donovan Waite, Lorraine DiAnne, and many of the new upcoming generation of Leaders in the Aikido community.

Sensei Laurendeau has been invited to lead seminars and to head classes in the Montreal and Quebec City areas, in Ottawa, Toronto, the United States, Mexico, France and Portugal.

As head instructor at McGill Aikido, awakening young people to the values carried by Aikido has certainly been Sensei Laurendeau’s most precious accomplishment.

And he strongly believes that Aikido remains an act of generosity, passing on knowledge as an altruistic gift.

Go, and give some more..."

~ Daniel Laurendeau, Head Instructor

• Started Aikido in 1988 at Montreal’s Aikido de la Montagne 1992.
• Trained under Obata Sensei for 3 years at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Center (JCCC) in mid-town Toronto.
• 1993 - Moved to downtown Toronto and spent 4 years with Sensei Fran Turner at Aikido Shugyo Dojo.
• 1997 - Moved back to Montreal and joined McGill Aikido.
• Involved as Assistant-Instructor in 2002.
• Tested for and awarded rank of Shodan in 2003.
• Obtained rank of Nidan in 2006 from Y. Yamada Shihan at the New York Aikikai.

"Aikido has become such a grounding force in my life. Its conflict-free philosophy has translated into a more relaxed nature in both my business and personal life. Aikido is about overcoming one’s ego and the need “to win” all of the time. Because we are responsible for our partner’s safety (even when employing effective controls or throws), we learn to deal with very stressful moments on the mat and in life that don’t necessarily need to result in creating pain or “a loss” for the other person. In my mind, this is the goal of Aikido - to live every moment of one’s life experiencing this sense of focus, lack of ego, and care for those we’re with (regardless of their intentions)."

~ Eric Kimmel, Assistant-Instructor

• 1995: Started Aikido in Mexico City at Carlos Corderos’ Aiki-Cally
• 1997: Moved to Montreal and joined McGill Aikido
• 2003: Assistant-Instructor at McGill Aikido
• 2008: Tested for and awarded rank of Nidan from Y. Yamada Shihan at the New York Aikikai

"Born in Mexico City, I started practicing martial arts in 1984 (Tae Kwon Do & Lima-Lama); I discovered Aikido in 1995 at Carlos Cordero’s Aiki-Cally; my teachers in Mexico had strong links with Massimo di Villadorata and Daniel Laurendeau in Montreal; therefore, when I came to study my MBA in 1997, I immediately joined McGill Aikido where I am now an assistant instructor.

Aikido is a very important part of my life; I also belong to Amnesty International whose philosophy I find very similar to Aikido’s principles of harmony and non-conflict.

Having an autistic daughter has taught me the importance of understanding that each person is special and unique and we should accept and love each one the way they are. Aikido is very much about this, it’s about being non-competitive and resolving conflict through harmony and understanding. For me, the real challenge is not to conquer others but to understand ourselves.

Working for Air Canada has allowed me to travel to many Aikido seminars where I have established good friendships, particularly with Clyde Takeguchi Shihan and Mary Heiny. I also admire the teachings of Frank Doran and of course Daniel Laurendeau, Massimo di Villadorata and Y.Yamada."

~ Juan-Carlos Cruz, Assistant-Instructor

• Began Aikido in September 1994 at McGill Aikido.
• Has trained full-time at Harvard Aikikai (Sioux Hall Sensei, shidoin), MIT Aikido (Dick Stroud Sensei, shidoin), Hagukumi (Sensei Peter Bacchus, shidoin, The Hague, The Netherlands).
• Uchideshi (live-in student) at Aikido Seishinkan, Kuching, Malaysia with Sensei Jong Kong Min.
• Involved as Assistant-Instructor for McGill Aikido in 2003.
• Earned 2nd dan, Nidan, in 2008 from Y. Yamada Shihan at the New York Aikikai.

"Noah's aikido is based on Sensei Laurendeau's three principles: yield, blend and flow.

'At the still point of the turning world, neither flesh nor fleshless; Neither from nor towards; at the still point, there the dance is.' T.S. Eliot, Four Quartets 1: Burnt Norton.

Noah is currently completing his doctorate in law at Harvard Law School, specializing in law and war."

~ Noah Weisboard, Assistant-Instructor

• 1995: Started Aikido at McGill Aikido
• 2007: First involved as Assistant-Instructor at McGill Aikido
• 2008: Tested for and awarded rank of Shodan (black belt) from Y. Yamada Shihan at the New York Aikikai

" In my view, Aikido training requires giving and sharing (knowledge, energy, and direction) on the mat. In the spirit of Sensei Laurendeau’s teaching, we aim to be aware of our environment and blend with our practice partners to let the energy flow harmoniously. It is an exciting challenge to attain the right balance of various forces (as in everyday life) and to realize that there is always room for improvement.

I find that McGill Aikido generates tremendous positive energy based on solid principles of respect, safety, and continuous learning. Lifelong friendships are formed at the Dojo, a great place to re-focus, re-energize, and better understand ourselves. "

~ Marc Novakoff, Assistant-Instructor