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Matt began practicing Aikido in 1989 with Michael Narey of the National Aikido Federation and became the youngest Shodan in the Federation in 1991. I obtained an introduction to go to Iwama in 1992 at 19 years of age from Philippe Voarino of France. I spent a total of two years in Japan; a year and a half from 1992 – 1994 and six months 1995 – 1996. I was awarded my fourth dan by Morihiro Saito Sensei in 1996. During my time there I travelled extensively in both Japan and Europe with Saito Sensei and his son Hitohiro Sensei as ‘Otomo’ for both seminars and demonstrations. In 1996 I became the first western student in more than 15 years to be taken on an overseas seminar with Saito Sensei as ‘Otomo’.
In 1997 I was accepted into the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst and was commissioned into the Parachute Regiment in 1998. During this time I taught classes to the Parachute Regiment in ‘arrest and restraint’ techniques prior to service in Northern Ireland. I served in the Parachute Regiment for five years leaving as a Captain in 2003.
I began teaching again in 2002 and regularly teach seminars in the UK and in Oct 2006 I received my 5th Dan from Hitohiro Saito Sensei
The Aikido that I teach remains the Aikido of Iwama with the teaching and coaching techniques that I employ gaining thier influence from my time as a recruit instructor with the Parachute Regiment. This blends traditional Japanese teaching with more modern coaching approaches. |
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