Ed Hiscoe, Hanshi
President
10th Degree Black Belt
My Story
Ed Hiscoe has been a proponent of Jiu-Jitsu since his introduction to the Art in the mid 1970's, when he began training with his sons James and Steve. On January 23, 1983, John Therien Sensei promoted Ed and Steve as the first father and son Jiu-Jitsu Black Belts in Canada. Ed assumed the teaching responsibilities for the Children's Jiu-Jitsu Programme at Therien’s Dojo for eleven years.
​Ed Hiscoe sensei was an elected Director of the onetime Canadian International Jiu-Jitsu Federation as Vice President of Curriculum and Training Programs. During his four years in office, he advised and assisted several martial arts schools and instructors across Canada in developing Jiu-Jitsu curriculum, training programmes and lessons plans.
He opened his Hiscoe School of Jiu-Jitsu in Ottawa, Ontario, in 1991, just prior to his retirement from the fire service. He served nineteen years with the Vanier City Fire Department as a fulltime fire fighter and Captain. For thirteen years he was the Ottawa District Fire Services Adviser with the Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal.
Ed was the Executive Director of the Canadian Jiu-Jitsu Union for Professor Sylvain initiating Black Belt Classes with the intent of helping Black Belt Instructors become better teachers. They were very active together in produced instructional videos about the Persuader Keyholder Self-Defense System, Pressure Point Techniques and a video on The Use and Application of Pepper Spray against Dogs.
​Ed Hiscoe sensei is widely recognized for his comprehensive knowledge of self-protection and self-defense, He was inducted into the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame on March 27, 1999, as Master Jiu-Jitsu Instructor of the Year. He was a privileged member of the Official Grading Panel recognizing Professor Georges Sylvain as being the founder of the Canadian System of Jiu-Jitsu, also known as Can-Ryu Jiu-Jitsu, and his many accomplishments in the martial arts. Professor Sylvain was awarded the title of O’Sensei and presented with his 10th Degree Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt, (Judan), in November of 2003,
O’Sensei Georges Sylvain promoted Ed Hiscoe to 9th Degree Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt on May 5, 2008, when O’Sensei Sylvain retired. He turned the complete responsibility of the Canadian Jiu-Jitsu Union and the Canadian System of Jiu-Jitsu to Ed Hiscoe Sensei. Ed Hiscoe sensei was awarded the title of Hanshi on February 15, 2011, by the senior membership of the Canadian Jiu-Jitsu Union.
Ed Hiscoe Hanshi has always been an exponent for the professional development of martial arts instructors and promoting ongoing advanced learning through the Canadian Jiu-Jitsu Union’s Black Belt College.
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On December 31, 2020, in accordance with the directives by O'Sensei Georges Sylvain, that; upon his death, December 6th, 2020, Ed Hiscoe Hanshi is promoted to 10th Degree Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt. The date on his Judan 10th Dan Diploma was endorsed by Lynn Sylvain, O'Sensei Georges Sylvain's daughter.
Ed Hiscoe Hanshi retired from the day-to-day activities of the Canadian Jiu-Jitsu Union on March 8, 2021. He awarded his son Steve the title of Soke and handed down the Canadian Jiu-Jitsu Union and the Canadian System of Jiu-Jitsu to him.
Ed Hiscoe Hanshi continues developing training programmes and acting in consultant and advisory roles. He can be reached by email; hiscoeschool@gmail.com