Kyu Shin Do Aikido North Shore

Ray started training in the martial arts in 1979 with Chidokan Karate.
In 1982, deciding Karate was not the right art for him, he started learning Aikido with the late Ron Russell Sensei
After Ron's death in 1994 Haydn Foster Sensei, who had been Russell Sensei's teacher in England, became Ray's teacher and mentor grading him to 4th Dan in 2001 and 5th Dan in 2006.
Following the death of Mr Foster in 2011, and having no teacher to look to, Ray applied to the AMAHOF Sokeship Council for a grading to 6th Dan in 2016 which he passed in August of that year.
Ray has been head of the Kyu Shin Do style of Aikido in New Zealand since 1994.
His approach to teaching is to apply the principles of Aikido, aiming for a safe non threatening environment that is conducive to learning and allows people to develop their own way.
One of his favourite quotes from the founder of Aikido is 'It (Aikido) is not for correcting others; it is for correcting your own mind.'.
He tries to live by this precept and reflect it in his style of teaching.

Gail practised Karate from 1979 until the end of 1988 reaching the rank of 2nd Dan and twice competing at Asia-Pacific championships .
In early 1988 she began to practice Aikido at the same time with Ron Russell Sensei. By the end of that year she committed fully to Aikido.
Having had many teachers over the years gail acknowledges 4 Aikido teachers who have been most influential in her training. They  are:

The late Ron Russell, her first teacher, who loved Aikido above everything and was a skilled and dedicated teacher.

The late Mr. H. Foster of the Institute of Aikido, (UK) who generously shared his vast reservoir of knowledge accumulated over 50 years in Aikido.

Richard Moon, who taught that Aikido is so much more than technique and that it is OK to make mistakes.

Her husband Ray who is committed to sharing aikido with all who want to learn.

Gail's ideas in presenting an Aikido class are first that it should be safe and fun for everyone involved. Her quest in teaching, learning and day to day life is to find better ways of smoothing the paths of human interaction.

Colin started training with Ron Russell Sensei at about the same time as Ray Eder and they did their Shodan grading at the same time
Colin had an extended break from training when his children were young but returned to join Kyu shin Do North Shore in 1993.
In the forms which are the foundation of our style Colin is regarded by his peers as the greatest reflection of our origional teacher, Ron Russell.
In his teaching Colin aims for clear and accurate demonstration of our basic techniques which makes his classes essential for anyone preparing for a grading.

Gerald started learning aikido in 1982, while studying for a law degree in London.
Gerald's principal instructor was Ken Williams, one of the first students and dan grades of Kenshiro Abbe. Sensei Abbe was a direct student of the founder, and was sent to London to teach Budo in 1955.
Ray Gail and Colin's teacher, Ron Russell, had also been a student of Ken Williams when he was the senior Instructor at the Institute of Aikido in the UK.
In 1986, Gerald started his own Streatham Ki Club, and also taught aikido for the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA). He was graded and awarded 3rd Dan by Ken Williams in 1993.
In 1994, Gerald left the UK, and stopped practising aikido for 25 years. When he came to New Zealand he found an aikido home with Kyu Shin Do Aikido where he has trained and taught since February 2019.
Gerald believes his life experiences during that 25 year hiatus have allowed his teachers' lessons to integrate within his mind and body, and allow him to share his understanding and vision of aikido in a unique way.
Gerald recieved his 4th Dan from the Institute of Aikido New Zealand in December 2022

Mike has been studying Aikido and related Arts for 50 years. Initial teachers were Chee Soo (Feng Shou- Hand of the Wind kung fu) and senior Aikido teachers Minoru Kanetsuka and Kenneth Cottier in the UK.
In New Zealand his initial Sensei was Johann Buiter who became head of the Riai Association. This group is currently a member of the California Aikido Association and Mike is a student of Shihan Robert Nadeau.
When Mike's club in Ponsonby closed following Covid he approached us for an oppertunity to teach at Kyu Shin Do. Given our long association and Mike's extensive experience we felt this would be benificial for our students and Mike has taught at our dojo since the beginning of 2024.

Phil started his aikido journey with Kyu Shin Do in late 2008 with his son who was a junior at the time.
He was graded to Shodan in April 2019
Phil's consistancy and dedication have earned the respect of his teachers and he is our 'go to' person for assisting beginners .