Aikido in Sydney

Aikido in Sydney has come a long way from its early days in the 1970s when Seichi Sugarno, Shihan was, from memory, the only teacher.

And when I was first looking for an Aikido dojo to train at, I found an Aiki-Kai class at the Police Citizens Boys Club at Wooloomooloo. But I learned the Shihan had recently left Australia.

That was the only Aikido in Sydney then, but soon afterwards a Tomiki-style teacher, Alan Ames, came to Sydney and started classes which I joined.

Now there's lots of different Aikido in Sydney nowadays.

I think that's good for Aikido, and good for you if you want to learn this martial art - for whatever reason.

I like Shodokan Aikido (also called Tomiki style), but to each his (or her) own. But don't ever let anyone tell you that theirs is the only style of Aikido or the real style. The founder had a score of serious students who all became Masters and added their own twist to things.

And Tomiki Kenji Sensei, who founded my style, was the first of the founder's pupils to be awarded Master rank of 8th Dan black belt by Ueshiba Morihei Sensei, (lovingly referred to as O-Sensei by his devotees).

See more about Sydney Aikido here: Sydney Sports Aikido.

And be sure to look at my Aikido and Martial Arts Links pages.