Chishin Dojo Teacher Profiles

My interest in Aikido started with sensei Tom Moss at The Phoenix Aikido Club in the early 90's. Tom was very instrumental in wanting me to seek out new teachers and find new things in Aikido and always wanted to see what new ideas I'd picked up when returning from visiting another teacher. Sadly Tom passed away in 2003 and with him, many of the things that I held dear. I met and trained with many teachers during those years - the main ones being Hiroshi Ikeda sensei, Christian Tissier sensei, Osamu Obata sensei, Mitsugi Saotome sensei and Frank Doran sensei. All of them in some way have peaked my interest and influenced how I move and what I think of Aikido.

If I were to pick one teacher over all others to list as my main influence it would unquestioningly be Hiroshi Ikeda sensei (his dojo is listed in the links section). I first met Ikeda sensei in 2001 and initially traveled over to see him based upon a video I'd bought and everything I'd heard about him. I wanted to grab hold of his wrist and see if he could do to me the things he was doing to everyone else in the video so easily and seemingly without a great deal of effort or movement... Suffice to say, I grabbed, I fell, I grabbed harder, I fell harder, I looked confused, he laughed! 8 years later and I am still feeling the same things and he is still, to me at least, one of the few Aikido teachers of who it can be truly said is actually advancing the art of Aikido - taking it to new places and seeking new heights. Anyone who's never trained with him - please go and grab hold of the man! He'll change your perception and what Aikido is with no shadow of doubt.

Starting your own Aikido club is not the easiest thing in the world to do and I'm very proud of our club and the people who train here week in, week out, we've got a great atmosphere and we're growing in numbers all the time. Our doors are always open and we're always happy to see new faces and embrace new ideas with regard to Aikido. I think we've achieved a lot in the past 2 years, from appearing live on BBC radio to demonstrating Aikido in front of Coventry's Lord Mayor. Our club has 3 teachers with different influences all sharing a common passion for this art and together we are proud of what we have managed to achieve.

On June 20th, 2009, I successfully tested for my 3rd dan on the annual Aikido for Daily Life Course. I had to perform random techniques from a series of attacks both empty handed and with weapons culminating in a 7 person randori (free attack).

Updated March 20,2010 

I have been doing Aikido for about seven years now and even though I've had my black belt for a little while I am still just a tadpole learning to swim. I began my life in Aikido with sensei Tom Moss and trained with him until he passed away. Over the years I have had the opportunity to train with some wonderful teachers, I am greatly influenced by both Obata sensei and Ikeda sensei.

I have been a member of Chishin Dojo since its beginning taking my 1st dan under the tuition and guidance of John and feel very lucky to have become an Aikido teacher. As well as myself, my husband and two of my sons are also practicing alongside me.

The people who train at Chishin Dojo are a very friendly bunch and we're like one big happy family, I'm proud to be a part of this club.

Updated 2009 

I first started Aikido in 1991 with Gurdi Panesar who was 4th dan with the Kai Shin Kai in Leeds. This was a flowing, gentle traditional style. I trained with this school for 5 years and was approaching shodan, within a couple of months of this I wasn't happy with my Aikido so left the club.

I saw an Aikido demonstration by sensei Shane Riley, 7th dan of The White Rose Aikikai which made me realise that this was the aikido I wanted to practice. I travelled 2 to 3 times a week to train with them in West Yorkshire for 5 years reaching shodan very much influenced by Paul Derrick, 6th dan. During this time I also attended as many aikido courses as I could, receiving instruction from sensei Terry Ezra, Terry Bayliss, William Smith, Alan Ruddock, David Rubens, Ken Cottier and Kirby Watson. I have also studied a little of Wing Chun, Judo, Jujutsu and Karate to enhance my Aikido.

I had a gap from training for a few years due to injuries and life getting in the way. During christmas 2009 I wanted to start Aikido again, by this time I was living in Coventry and searched the internet for Aikido Schools. I found several and with much thought I chose the Chishin Dojo run by John who is in my opinion one of the best aikido instructors in the country and we are very fortunate to have a teacher of his calibre.

Our school is very open and friendly and I would like to thank all of the Chishin Dojo members for making me a part of them and their Aikido family. In April 2010 I passed my Level I coaching award with the BAB under the guidance of sensei Piers Cooke with sensei Frank Burlingham watching over us.

Updated May 30, 2010