John

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, Frank Doran sensei and Shizuo Imaizumi sensei amongst others. 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 over in Boulder just over 8 years ago 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! 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 was asked to take (and passed) my 3rd dan grading 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).

Toni

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.

Az

I have been studying Aikido since 1983 starting in Casablanca ( Morocco) when I was 12 with sensei Bahadou of Budokan du Maroc who was affiliated to Aikikai until early 2000 after which he affiliated his clubs to Aikibukikai Takemusu Aiki. I started teaching Aikido in 1988 at Budokan du Maroc club as well as various public and private clubs in Casablanca.

When I moved to the UK in 1995 I tried a couple of Aikido clubs but then struggled to find an Aikido club to train in that felt 'right'. Moved to Coventry later and in my continuing search I heard of a gentleman by the name of Tom Moss who was the head of The Phoenix Aikido Club, when I paid a visit, sensei Tom welcomed me with open arms and so did his students, I felt home again. However due to family commitments and travel I couldn't attend as many lessons as I wished. In my absence I heard that sensei Tom had passed away; news that broke my heart to the extent that I didn't visit his club again just to keep his memory alive within me.

       

A few years later, I heard of an Aikido club in the city centre I thought why not since it is closer to me in distance than other clubs in town, that's when I met John and Toni again, it was a funny moment where we looked at each other and said "I know you, you trained with Tom" I trained with John and Toni and they made me welcome, I liked the big family thing that Chishin dojo has and I never looked back. I have trained with/under various Aikido and other martial arts experts during my training years but I can't wait to meet Ikeda sensei and Ushiro sensei, I have heard so many stories about them.

I still feel like a baby just making his first steps in Aikido. I have so much to learn from our students and teachers and we only have 3 sessions a week of which I attend two. For me Aikido isn't just for a session or two it has become my way of life, I try to apply its philosophy in my daily life. Through out my careers I have always found place where Aikido applies. If it wasn't for Aikido, sensei Bahadou and those that followed I wouldn't be the person I am, and for that, I am very grateful.