Whitton Aikido
                                                    & Reading Aikido
                                                    logoWhite Oak Aikido
Aikido in Reading Berkshire
and
Aikido on Powys, Shropshire, Herefordshire Borders
offering classes in the Japanese martial art of Aikido since 1991

...the way of the warrior ...the way of harmony


Aikido History - Training with Ron Russell

Some stories of those that went before - Russell Sensei

This was written by me (Simon Thackeray of White Oak Aikido Reading) without any intention to make any claims as to accuracy or it being any version of a 'complete and true' UK Aikido history. It is based on my own memories of events, written information that I have and my memory of what I have been told. Lots of Aikido people and lots of Aikido events have been omitted because this is only about people and events that interacted with my own development in Aikido and that of White Oak Aikido and Reading University Aikido, so it is all very much written from my own perspective and only includes what I want to and what I remember right now as I write it. However, if you think anything is seriously inaccurate as opposed to being omitted, then please let me know! Alternatively, for the options for martial arts training in Reading, Berkshire today, just follow that link.

Below is a section on Ron Russell Sensei - you can use the following links to go to Foster Sensei, Hamish McFarlane, Andy Allan, Fiona Bain and some information on the history of Aikido at Reading University. Saito Sensei and Iwama Aikido were strong influences on my Aikido, so you can also see more about that here.

Ron Russell Sensei

He started Judo at The Hut in 1962 and originally started Aikido to improve his Judo. He emigrated to New Zealand in 1978 and was teaching Aikido there but returned to the UK in 1991, teaching at The Hut and attending the Aikido Summer School. He was graded to 4th Dan in 1986 and 5th Dan in March 1993.

I really only knew him for a brief period during the early 1990s, having the opportunity to practise Aikido with him at The Hut. He was totally immovable if I made any attempt to force any technique on, so he taught me a lot about how not to use strength. He was very appreciative of the effort I put into running Summer School.

Both his elbows had suffered from Shihonage and he once cracked his pelvis when demonstrating how not to receive a technique. Famed for being able to do ukemi over a Mini in The Hut car park! He died in 1994, having returned to New Zealand in August 1993.

To quote him:

"You start it, I'll finish it."

"It's never boring in the dojo."

On answering the question: How many people were at Aikido training? "Always count the instructor, it sounds better".

"Everyone these days wants to be taught everything rather than study it."

Watch our Aikido video here!
Not what you'll be doing when you start, but sometimes our more senior grades like to show off a bit!

Find out more about getting involved in the martial art of Aikido in Whitton and Aikido in Reading:
Home page of White Oak Aikido UK
Info for Beginners - some more details about Aikido and what to expect if you come along to either our Reading or Whitton dojos.
Or please Contact us if you have any questions about Aikido classes in Reading or Whitton.

...and here's some pages about the past - Aikido in the old days

Weekly Chi Gung / Qigong classes in Craven Arms Shropshire

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Ron
                                            Russell Sensei at The Hut
                                            dojo under the picture of o
                                            Sensei
Ron Russell Sensei at The Hut dojo in 1993.

Judo book with Ron
                                            Russell name sticker
Judo book - a present from Ron Russell Sensei.

Ron Russell Sensei
                                            throwing with the Jo.
Ron Russell Sensei throwing with the jo.



Contact Reading Aikido:

Email Reading Aikido

Phone Reading Aikido
07743 301199

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Contact Whitton Aikido:

Email Whitton Aikido

Phone Whitton Aikido
01432 509467