MICHAEL ORMEROD

CHIEF INSTRUCTOR – 3RD DAN AIKIKAI

Michael Ormerod began his training in Aikido at the age of 15 in the UK. He has trained extensively throughout Europe and under taken an intensive training period in Japan under the guidance of Hiroki Nemoto Sensei (7th Dan) and training in the Founder’s Dojo and Hombu Dojo. In 2016 he began a full time apprenticeship under his teacher Lewis Bernaldo de Quiros (6th Dan), training and teaching in the Takemusu Aikido Motril Dojo and attending international seminars as assistant. Michael has over 10 years of teaching experience, and in January 2018 he established Takemusu Aikido Orgiva, offering classes to children and adults. In 2019 Michael received the rank of Sandan (3rd Dan) from the Aikikai in Japan, Tokyo. Early 2020 saw the creation of the Takemusu Aikido Online Dojo, as a response to the Covid Pandemic – giving people the opportunity to continue their daily practice and the comfort of knowing that Aikido is just a click away under any circumstances.

Michael also serves as technical support for Chet Valley Aikido (based in Norfolk, UK) which was established in September 2020.

“I was drawn to the ideal of cooperative learning rooted in training methods designed to ‘toughen the body, and polish the spirit’, and practicing 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 – 6TH DAN AIKIKAI

Lewis Bernaldo de Quirós 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 of both Traditional Aikido Europe (TAE) and Takemusu Aikido Tradicional España (TATE) .

“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 the Aikidojo Zaragoza:

Lewis is a direct student of Morihiro Saito Sensei. 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: