MICHAEL ORMEROD

CHIEF INSTRUCTOR – 4th DAN AIKIKAI

Michael began his training in 2005 at the age of 15 in the UK. He has trained extensively throughout Europe and undertaken an intensive training period in Iwama (Japan) under the guidance of Hiroki Nemoto Sensei (7th Dan). From 2016, he began a full-time ‘live in’ apprenticeship, living with, and training daily, with his teacher Lewis Bernaldo de Quiros (7th Dan); plus also training and teaching in the Takemusu Aikido Motril Dojo in Southern Spain and attending international seminars as assistant to his teacher. The Takemusu Aikido Online Dojo was created in 2020 (as a response to the Covid Pandemic). His objective was to give people the opportunity to continue their daily practice – a practice that has continued, every morning, five-days a week since then. In 2024, Michael received the rank of 4th Dan from the Aikikai in Japan, Tokyo.

Michael also serves as Technical Director for Chet Valley Aikido (based in Norfolk, UK) which was established in Summer 2021.

“I was drawn to the ideal of cooperative learning rooted in training methods designed to ‘toughen the body, and polish the spirit’, and practising in an environment where only total concentration was enough. I am searching for a way of moving and interacting that is functional and effortlessly efficient – with the quality and feel of ‘liquid steel’.

My motto for Aikido training is Samuel Beckett’s:

Try Again. Fail Again. Fail Better.“

Check out this Interview with Michael, conducted by two Dojo students, about the challenges of teaching and learning through an Online platform:

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LEWIS BERNALDO DE QUIROS

TECHINICAL DIRECTOR – 7TH DAN AIKIKAI

Lewis Bernaldo de Quiros trained full time under the late Morihiro Saito Sensei (9th Dan) from 1986 until 1993 in the Iwama Dojo in Japan. Since returning from Japan he has taught Aikido on a full time basis and to date has conducted well over 300 international seminars.

He is the senior instructor and examiner on behalf of Hombu Dojo of a European network of Dojos (Traditional Aikido Europe) committed to developing, researching and transmitting the style of Aikido known as Takemusu Aikido, which was transmitted directly to Morihiro Saito Sensei from the Founder of Aikido Morihei Ueshiba during his more than 23 years as a direct student at the Founder’s Dojo in Iwama Japan.

Lewis is the Technical Director and Chairman of Traditional Aikido Europe (TAE).

“Martial arts practice is a practice of consciousness. Of waking up to being present and responsive to the demands of the moment beyond the personal agenda of the person. To my mind then it can have meaning not only on the mat but beyond and not only as a martial art but as a way of life.”

Check out this Interview with Lewis conducted by Aikidoblog.net

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MORIHIRO SAITO

9th DAN AIKIKAI

Morihiro Saito Sensei was one of the principal students of the Founder of Aikido Morihei Ueshiba and trained under him as his sole and only teacher, taking over as both caretaker of the Aikido Shrine and as director of the Founder’s Dojo in Iwama upon his decease in 1969.

Morihiro Saito Sensei passed away on 13 May 2002.

Read a full Biography of Morihiro Saito Sensei here: