日本語 

RYA Instructors 

Each instructor is registered with the world headquarters in Tokyo and has trained extensively at the Honbu Dojo in Shinjuku. Together they have nearly 40 years of experience in Yoshinkan Aikido.

Both instructors have also participated in demonstrations and tours both in Japan and internationally.

Please contact them for information about the club.

Roland Thompson

5th Degree black belt

Thompson Sensei began Aikido training in 1987 at the Yoshinkan Honbu Dojo. In 1988 to 1989 graduated from the 25th Tokyo Riot Police course. He then became an assistant instructor and was promoted to Ikaku Shidoin at the Honbu Dojo in 1989. During the period from 1989 to 1994 he actively taught at the Honbu Dojo while also being the assistant to Ando Tsuneo and Chida Tsutomu. He also joined tours in Japan and overseas with senior Japanese instructors and actively promoted Yoshinkan Aikido to the international community in Tokyo. Thompson Sensei was one of the senior instructors who started the Kokusai Senshusei Course at Honbu. He became know as the terminator for his hard and physically demanding classes which was infamously depicted in the best-selling novel, “Angry White Pajamas,” by Robert Twigger, in which he was also featured. Due to his dedication and commitment to Yoshinkan Aikido he was personally presented his Shidoin teaching certificate as a licensed instructor in Japan from the founder of Yoshinkan Aikido, the legendary Soke Shioda Gozo. With over twenty years of experience Thompson Sensei has taught Aikido to many nationalities and in many situations. He has held seminars for the US Army at Camp Zama, Japan, held Aikido seminars in Seoul, Korea, taught at International Schools and held specialized self defense seminars in Tokyo. In 2001 he was the first non Japanese national to open an active Yoshinkan dojo in Tokyo. A fluent Japanese speaker Thompson Sensei has trained in Judo, Taekwondo, Kendo, Jodo, kyudo and Jujitsu and is an active member of various international martial arts associations, including the International Yoshinkan Aikido Federation and the International Martial Arts Federation. True to his open-minded spirit Thompson Sensei lives his Aikido off the mat and continues to support charity and community activities throughout Japan. He is the Vice Chair for the Foreign Community Supporting Committee at the YMCA raising money and supporting challenged children in Japan. Thompson Sensei continues a proud tradition that crosses the boundaries of any single art. This tradition passes the heritage of ancient martial arts teachings from the 13th and 14th centenaries into the 21st centenary. As those lucky enough to train with him soon realize, he is exemplary, both as a martial artist and as an individual. For any serious student of the martial arts, you could not ask for better teacher.

Michael Stuempel

3rd Degree black belt Michael began training Aikido in 1986 in Ontario, Canada. In 1993 came to Japan to participate in the 3rd International Yoshinkan Aikido Instructor's course. Following the course stayed on as an assistant instructor and was promoted to Itaku Shidoin in 1995.

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