Stephen Ohlman
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Stephen Ohlman is a leading international authority on aikido as taught by Yoshinkan Aikido master, Tsuneo Ando, Director of Yoshinkan Aikido Ryu.
He was diagnosed with meningitis at 6 weeks old and underwent a lumbar puncture. The disease left him with balance problems as a child. Through studying martial arts he eventually overcame them altogether.
Stephen Ohlman is a 5th degree black belt in aikido and has also obtained ranks in karate (3rd degree black belt) and judo (2nd degree black belt) in his over 25-year career as a martial artist.
He spent six years studying in Japan; one enrolled in the 11-month International Instructors Course and five under the direct tutelage of Tsuneo Ando. He held a rare position as a non-native Chief Instructor at the maihama dojo in Japan from 1997 to 2000. Given rights reserved almost exclusively to Japanese teachers, he not only taught but also promoted students in Japan. Eventually, he was chosen as the person to sit on a two-person black belt grading committee alongside Tsuneo Ando.
He now resides in Barrie, Ontario, Canada with his family and is the Chief Instructor and Director of Aikido Hiryukan. Hiryukan, Place of the Soaring Dragon, is the name given to his dojo by Tsuneo Ando.
Recently Tsuneo Ando Visited Canada. View pictures from the demonstration
