Ivar Hafskjold was born in Norway on 8th of April 1945 (and thus lived through one month of the Second World War) into a family of ancient nobility. As a child he studied the family art of Stav with his Granduncle and other members of the family. He attended the Universities of Oslo and Leeds, studying phonetics and literature, and then spent several years in Africa.

Returning to Norway he spent time with the army specializing in anti-guerilla warfare and intelligence and also worked for the Refugee Council and as a schoolteacher. During this period he met his wife Kiyoko, and when he was 34 years old they moved to Japan, where Ivar studied Shinto Muso-ryu Jo-jutsu and Takeda-ryu Aiki-jutsu and obtained teaching certificates in both arts. He also studied Aiki-do with Steven Seagal.

After 14 years in Japan Ivar and his family moved to Beverley in Yorkshire, where he started to teach Stav to 4 selected students. These 4 students have later spread the knowledge of Stav worldwide.

Ivar now spend most of his time in semi-retirement hunting rabbits with his Red tail Hawk, Bronwen and his Eagle Owl Arthur. 

Heimbu - Ivar Hafskjold - email: thehosling@stavinternational.org
URL: http://www.stavinternational.org

Sachiyo Akiyama

Osaka, Japan

email care of Heimbu