Instructors
Burloak Aikikai Aikido has a number of senior practitioners with many years of experience and dedication to training
Ben Peacock
Chief Instructor, 6th-dan, Shidoin
Ben began his aikido practice at 13 years old in 1982 in the kids’ class at Victoria Aikikai.
In 1992, he moved to Tokyo to train at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo (World Headquarters, in Tokyo), where he trained for 11 years.
His main teacher at Hombu was Seki Shihan, for whom he served as demonstration partner at the annual All-Japan Aikido demonstration and other events on multiple occasions.
He also regularly trained under Moriteru Ueshiba Doshu and many other Hombu Shihan.
While in Japan, Ben simultaneously trained in the traditional weapon art of Suio-ryu.
After leaving Japan, Ben lived and practiced aikido in the UK and Australia before returning to Canada.
He is extremely proud to have opened Burloak Aikikai in 2017 to share his love of energetic aikido training with the western Greater Toronto-Hamilton Area community.
Amr Abdulkader
4th-dan (Yondan)
Amr started practicing Aikido in 2015 as a method to learn self defense, increase self confidence and get fit with the Egyptian Aikido Association (EAA) in Cairo, Egypt. He attained black belt in 2017 under Mohamed El Sayed Sensei, the president of the EAA. Amr was an instructor and member of the management team of the Aikido Way Academy in New Cairo, Egypt Amr has helped prepare lots of aikido practitioners starting from day one up to their black belts, and he regularly attends seminars in Egypt and Canada.
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Amr has been teaching Aikido in Canada since 2018 at his Aikido Oakville dojo, and is a member of the Shin Kaze Aikido Alliance. He enjoys teaching and training in Aikido as a way of being fit, learning self defence and meeting fellow aikido enthusiasts!
Olly Hughes
2nd-dan
Olly began his Aikido journey in the UK as a university student in 1993, studying Nishio Aikido under Paul Barker Sensei.
After moving to Canada, Olly continued his Aikido practice at other dojos until moving to the JCCC in 2013 to study and practice under Obata Shihan until he returned to Japan. During his time at the JCCC, Olly had the opportunity to travel with Obata Shihan to seminars, including international friendship seminars, demos and various dojos across Japan, including Hombu Dojo.
Olly was awarded his Shodan and Nidan by Osawa Shihan. He follows Osawa Shihan's and Obata Shihan's styles with a blend of his Nishio Aikido foundational training.
Olly is relatively new to Burloak Aikikai, but is extremely regular and consistent in his training.
Joseph Wilson
1st-dan
Joseph began formal Aikido training in 1992 under Sensei Ron Plomish (Yoshinkan) and Sensei Fran Turner (Aikikai) while at York University. In 1997, he moved to Japan's Kansai region, where he trained for seven years under the late K. Shimamoto Shihan, founder of Shosenji Aikido Dojo and a direct student of O Sensei and K. Osawa Sensei of Aikikai Hombu Dojo.
While in Japan, Joseph also trained in Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu under S. Okabayashi Shihan, a student of T. Hisa and T. Takeda. Okabayashi Sensei later formed the Hakuhou-Ryu (White Phoenix school) Aikibudo organization.
His ranks include Aikikai Aikido 1st dan (2002), an elementary teaching certificate in Sokaku-den Ono-ha Itto-ryu Kenjutsu (2003), and 3rd dan in Daito-ryu Hakuhou-kai (2005).
Presently, Joseph has returned to Aikido and Aikibudo, and recreationally pursues Judo and Sumo in the GTHA, exploring the connections between all of these arts.
Andrew (Drew) Giang
1st-dan
Andrew (Drew) has been practicing aikido consistently for over 10 years. He has also trained in other forms of martial arts such as Karate and Wing Chun. After starting at another aikido dojo in Mississauga, he joined Burloak Aikikai Aikido in 2018 and is one of the original members here. His focus is to make his style of aikido as smooth, flowing, and clean as possible.
Steven Schlorke
1st-dan
Steven has been practicing aikido since 2016 and has been an early and consistent member of Burloak Aikikai since 2018
