Principal Coaches
The Principal Coaches of the Keitenshin Kai are Jonathan Davies Sensei and Sarah Williams Sensei. Both 4th Dan Aikido, Shoden Ki and British Aikido Board Senior Coaches and Coach Tutors. Jonathan started practising Aikido in 1983, finally persuading Sarah to come along to a class in 1986. They practised under Wasyl Kolesnikov Sensei in Lancashire and various clubs in London and Reading (both Ki and Traditional Aikido) whilst living away from Manchester. They set up their first club at Manchester University in 1988, followed by a second club in Manchester city centre in 1998. They finally opened their own dojo in 1999 in an old silk hat factory on Mason Street (after a steep learning curve in the art of renovation and a little help from their friends...). As the most senior students in their former association they realised that their path of development lay in developing their own association with their own unique approach and technical direction. Thus the Keitenshin Kai was founded in 2008. When not teaching Aikido Jonathan and Sarah run Dojo EcoShop on the floor below the Aikido dojo at Mason Street.
Jonathan Davies 4th Dan
"Practising Aikido continually reminds me just how important it is to flow and harmonise with others to develop a balance of perspective at every level of my own life. Applying the dynamic principles of Aikido helps me to refine my interpretation of life and discover new outlooks. Balance is a key feature in our Aikido practice both from a physical or postural perspective, but just as importantly at a mind level as well. It’s about finding out what balance really means - it isn’t always about the middle way, but an understanding about what lies either side of that way too. This could be choosing to make a technique ‘hard’ or ‘’soft’ depending on the circumstance or learning to use both tension and relaxation. Mentally it can be about focusing in on details or being equally able to stand back and see the whole picture. Ultimately Aikido is a continuous interaction between a dynamic outer form and a powerful inner system."
Sarah Williams 4th Dan
"I think of Aikido as being essentially about communication. One of the things that attracted me to it in the first place was that we practice with a partner - not in isolation. It’s a dialogue from the first intent of an attack to the final focus between partners following a throw or lock. You can choose to ‘listen’ and absorb or get straight in there directly but without unnecessary confrontation. The joining of this dialogue with a physical process is an endlessly fascinating exploration and a great way to exercise your mind and body!"
Senior Instructors
Dave Hines
2nd Dan
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"I have been practicing Aikido since the early 90s and have been instructing for the last six years. I enjoy the calmness, power and flow of Aikido which makes techniques powerful without the use of brute strength, and the way that the practice of Aikido helps to cultivate a positive attitude along with skills for solving life's problems."
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Ed Stansfield
2nd Dan
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"I started learning Aikido in 1996 at the Manchester University club and I guess I just never stopped. Physically and mentally I use Aikido principles every day. I think that one of the reasons I'm still practicing is that Aikido is a way that lets you strive towards perfection, even if you never reach it."
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Henry Ramsey
2nd Dan
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"I found Aikido at a time when I felt vulnerable even though I had trained in various full contact arts. I started practice in 1994 with an "I'll keep going as long as I learn something valid and I keep enjoying it" attitude, and am happy to testify that discovering the numerous, multi layered elements of Aikido has become a personal life long enquiry. I look forward with joy to the ongoing dialogue and the ever changing interaction that coaching and learning this evolving art form brings."
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Hugh Smith
2nd Dan
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"I have been studying Aikido since 1996. Like many people, I started Aikido expecting to learn about self-defence, but have found myself learning many other more important things along the way. I find Aikido provides a good balance for my working life, particularly with my tendency (as an engineer) to over-analyse things."
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Philip McDermott
2nd Dan
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"I started Aikido at the university class in 1998, having no real knowledge or interest in martial arts, but having been intrigued by what I'd learnt at the society's stall. Ten years later, almost to the day, I found myself sitting at the front at that same class as the sensei, which was an unusual but moving and exciting experience. Since starting Aikido I've learnt more about the martial arts in general, and had opportunities to try other arts, styles and philosophies. Aikido is now such a part of what I do I would find it difficult to separate it out from the rest of my life - I find I use its principles within almost everything I do. In my own Aikido practice, I try to explore the principles of a Ki-style system with the traditional foundations of solid technique."
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Susanne Langer
2nd Dan
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"I have been practising Aikido on a regular basis since 1996. Aikido has since been a source of inspiration and stimulation both on the mat and off it. Initially attracted to it as a form of self-defence, I soon realised that there was much more to Aikido than that. Some of these unexpected benefits included gaining an appreciation of the scope of technique, the calming sense of patterns, and the exhilaration of flow. Teaching has added a further dimension as it requires breaking down techniques, finding out what makes them work, and then putting them back together again to enable students to gain the best possible understanding of what is, after all, a constantly evolving martial art."
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