I started martial arts in 1971, doing gojiru karate under the late Bonniface sensei, who was also a shodan in fujiru aikido which looked a lot more like aikijitsu.  I did both aikido and karate at the same time for two years, then dropped the karate to carry on with the aikido.  I was attracted to aikido by the black hakama and the fluid movements of the art.  In the many years since then I have had many instructors, naming but a few, Sugano sensei, Takane sensei, and Nadeau shihan.

I started teaching aikido in 1978 in an organisation called Canterbury Aikido club.  After numerous splits and reformations Aikido Canterbury (also known as Aikido Aotearoa) was founded in 1993.  The club has about 20 regular training members and trains twice a week on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. 

My most Memorable Aikido Experience
My most memorable Aikido experience was in the last ten years or so FINALLY understanding what Nadeau shihan talks about in his seminars.  For example, being able to experience the aikido you can’t see, and the effect of ones inner self in relation to your interaction with other people.