Instructors

 

Ray Munns 3rd Dan, BAB Coach Level 1
I began Aikido in 1986 at Olney Aikido Club (my "local") The club subsequently moved to, and became, Milton Keynes Aikido Club. I started a martial art (aikido was geographically the closest) to replace the competition I'd lost on retiring from competitive hockey! It didn't take me long to realise that Aikido is about competition... with oneself! My senseis were Alan Sanders and Roger Nye. I thank them both for their perseverance and compassion. They have both since retired from aikido practice; they will always number among my friends.

I achieved Shodan in 1999, a long wait during which time both my sensei had retired and I and my 1st Kyu friends left with the responsibility of Milton Keynes Club. I approached Aubrey Smith Sensei of Northampton and the Yama Arashi (UK) Association into which my sensei had joined us prior to retiring. Aubrey has always taken an interest and a role in the development of our club.

I became Assistant Coach in Dec 1995 and Coach in Sept 2000. To these three people, and Bob Sherrington Sensei of Kettering Aikikai, I owe a debt of gratitude. They instilled within me an understanding of the importance of harmony during practice and life, of doing aikido WITH people and not TO them.

There are, of course, many others from the world of aikido who have helped guide me along this path so far, sensei and students. In 2000 Keith Downs Sensei joined Milton Keynes Sei Shin. In addition to enabling our entrance into the Lancashire Aikikai Keith has added other fine elements to the aikido we practice.

In April 2002 Keith arranged for me to take the necessary steps toward achieving Nidan. My gratitude can only be expressed by my continuing enjoyment of aikido. I wish to acknowledge my acknowledgement of his help towards my improvement as well as that of our students. 3rd dan awarded September 2006

Keith Downs 5th Dan, BAB Coach Level 3
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Bryan Bateman 2nd Dan, BAB Coach Level 1 & Young People
I began my Aikido training at the Milton Keynes Aikido club in 1992 with Alan Sanders and Roger Nye. In 1995, I made my first trip to Japan visiting the Aikikai Hombu dojo. In 1996 I found the Seibukan dojo in Kobe. There I trained under Nakao Shingo Sensei for 3 months. I returned to the Seibukan in 1997 for another 2 month stay, and have continued to visit annually, sometimes twice a year ever since. My company transferred me to Tokyo in 2001 which gave me the opportunity to join the Aikikai Hombu dojo, there I trained in Ueshiba Moriteru Doshu's morning classes. I then found the Honcho dojo, part of the Nakano Ku Aikido Renmei, about 5 minutes from home. I trained at Honcho regularly, 2 or 3 times a week throughout my two year posting in Tokyo, whilst I also continued to make visits to the Aikikai Hombu and the Seibukan in Kobe. During my time in Japan, I was fortunate enough to train with many excellent teachers including Ueshiba Moriteru Doshu, Nakao Shingo Sensei, Tada Hiroshi Sensei, Endo Seishiro Sensei, Koyama Kenji Sensei, Nojima Masao Sensei, Tanaka Shigeo Sensei, Masuda Seijuro Sensei, and many more. Nakao Sensei has become a great mentor to me and I continue to visit him every year. On returning to the UK, I rejoined the Milton Keynes dojo where I continue to train.

I was graded to 1st Dan by Keith Downs on 26th November 2003. I am a qualified BAB Coach and Children's Coach, and hold current First Aid certification. I started a junior class in December 2003 . I opened a satellite dojo at Kents Hill in June 2004. I was graded to 2nd Dan by Keith on 29th November 2006.



Paul Maher 1st Dan, BAB Coach Level 1
I started Aikido in 1994 under Alan Saunders Sensei . I took my first few grading with the Yama Arashi then as the club moved to the Lanashire Aikikai I took my senior gradings until I achived Shodan in November 2003.

Darren Clayton 1st Dan, BAB Coach Level 1
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