Instructors


Instructors in brief (click or scroll down for detail or to edit)

  • Ben Hamley Assistant Instructor. The clubs resident alternate lifestylist, many enjoy his 'slightly' left of centre. Find him teaching on the juniors and beginners course roster. Currently 1st kyu.
    Posted ‎‎Oct 13, 2009 4:37 PM‎‎ by Ben Tan
  • Paul Crawley Instructor originally from the Byron Bay region Paul stopped by in Brisbane a few years ago and never got around to leaving (except for a year teaching aikido in ...
    Posted ‎‎Oct 13, 2009 4:20 PM‎‎ by Ben Tan
  • Eric Ohlsen Aikikids and Beginners' Assistant Instructor Eric watched his son doing aikido in Byron and then Brisbane, before venturing onto the mat.  Three years later, Eric holds a 1st kyu and ...
    Posted ‎‎Oct 12, 2009 6:20 PM‎‎ by Ben Tan
  • Rod Nixon-Smith - Head Dojo Instructor & Everton Hills dojo head ph. 0406 598 478Rod holds (in addition to your baggage on Qantas) a much prized beginners mind for aikido, and responsible for many an airline upgrade for Maruyama sensei ...
    Posted ‎‎Oct 13, 2009 4:38 PM‎‎ by Ben Tan
  • Chris Cobban Aikiteens Instructor   Chris is one of our club's new shodans and has also been accreditied as an aikiteens instructor, with responsibility for the aikiteens class.  He currently divides his ...
    Posted ‎‎Oct 12, 2009 6:20 PM‎‎ by Ben Tan
  • Benjamin Tan - Nathan dojo head ph. 0422307790Our first home grown Aikido Yuishinkai Nidan. Find Ben Sensei teaching on Saturday mornings!
    Posted ‎‎Oct 13, 2009 4:19 PM‎‎ by Ben Tan
  • Aran Bright Aran Sensei has practiced in a few styles of aikido since 1996. Firstly with Ki Society (at the legendary Spring Hill dojo in town) and then laterwith Aikido Yuishinkai after ...
    Posted ‎‎Aug 4, 2008 9:44 PM‎‎ by Aran Bright
  • Gabrielle Paynter PH: 0450 311 552 Instructor and at the heart of the social scene, Gabby has just returned from teaching Aikido in Brazil and she's back teaching at Nathan Dojo ...
    Posted ‎‎Oct 12, 2009 6:18 PM‎‎ by Ben Tan
  • Jutta Dowdy - Vice President (07)3378 4047 (h)Famous for her German cooking she takes ukemi that puts many younger ones to shame. As vice president she keeps the president's spending under control ...
    Posted ‎‎Oct 13, 2009 4:32 PM‎‎ by Ben Tan
  • Steve Mitchell - President Ph. 0432 269 534 Aikikids Head InstructorNaturopath by trade and Aikikids (children) instructor. Steve is also our Griffith Aikido Instutute Inc. President.
    Posted ‎‎Oct 13, 2009 4:29 PM‎‎ by Ben Tan
  • Steve Dows ph. 0418 799 165(m)Originally a student of Brian Powers Sensei, he joined Ki Society and Maruyama Sensei sometime in the early eighties we think, some remember him teaching ...
    Posted ‎‎Oct 13, 2009 4:30 PM‎‎ by Ben Tan
  • Gary Weigh   Immediate past-President, elder statesman and instructor  ph 0408 756 531Gary continues to manage the business aspects, and contributes to the financial management of the club.  He is an ...
    Posted ‎‎Oct 13, 2009 4:33 PM‎‎ by Ben Tan
  • Daniel James 0401 683 592 (m)After finishing his days work as an academic at the Nathan campus, Danny takes an evening classes at Nathan. He has published articles on the physics ...
    Posted ‎‎Jul 7, 2009 9:38 PM‎‎ by daniel james
Showing posts 1 - 13 of 13. View more »


Our instructors and Executive members are experienced aikido practitioners known personally to Maruyama Sensei. They are fully accredited and insured with Aikido Yuishinkai and are committed to the study of aikido. All instructors have had first aid training and hold current 'blue cards' for child related activities. A number of our senior instructors hold Dan and Ki quallifications from the Ki Society as well. All instructors and office bearers are unpaid volunteers who donate their time and efforts for free. 
(NOTE: for contributors, please only upload images 10kB or smaller in size, detailed bio should be added as a comment to basic bio and photo)

Ben Hamley

posted ‎‎Jul 28, 2008 4:06 PM‎‎ by daniel james   [ updated ‎‎Oct 13, 2009 4:37 PM‎‎ by Ben Tan ]

Assistant Instructor. The clubs resident alternate lifestylist, many enjoy his 'slightly' left of centre. Find him teaching on the juniors and beginners course roster. Currently 1st kyu.

Paul Crawley

posted ‎‎Jul 28, 2008 4:06 PM‎‎ by daniel james   [ updated ‎‎Oct 13, 2009 4:20 PM‎‎ by Ben Tan ]

Instructor originally from the Byron Bay region Paul stopped by in Brisbane a few years ago and never got around to leaving (except for a year teaching aikido in the slums of Brazil that is). Paul holds a Nidan and teaches his very nimble aikido techniques on Tuesday nights.

Eric Ohlsen

posted ‎‎Jul 20, 2008 5:43 PM‎‎ by Steve Mitchell   [ updated ‎‎Oct 12, 2009 6:20 PM‎‎ by Ben Tan ]

Aikikids and Beginners' Assistant Instructor
Eric watched his son doing aikido in Byron and then Brisbane, before venturing onto the mat.  Three years later, Eric holds a 1st kyu and regularly assists with children's classes on a Saturday. 

Rod Nixon-Smith - Head Dojo Instructor & Everton Hills dojo head

posted ‎‎Jun 1, 2008 6:46 PM‎‎ by daniel james   [ updated ‎‎Oct 13, 2009 4:38 PM‎‎ by Ben Tan ]

ph. 0406 598 478
Rod holds (in addition to your baggage on Qantas) a much prized beginners mind for aikido, and responsible for many an airline upgrade for Maruyama sensei. Rod currently teaches at the Everton Hills (Hills District PCYC) dojo. 
Rod Nixon-Smith, Brisbane Aikido at Griffith

Chris Cobban

posted ‎‎Jun 1, 2008 6:45 PM‎‎ by daniel james   [ updated ‎‎Oct 12, 2009 6:20 PM‎‎ by Ben Tan ]

Aikiteens InstructorChris Cobban, Brisbane Aikido at Griffith
 
Chris is one of our club's new shodans and has also been accreditied as an aikiteens instructor, with responsibility for the aikiteens class.  He currently divides his time between university studies, training, instructing and part-time work.

Benjamin Tan - Nathan dojo head

posted ‎‎Jun 1, 2008 6:44 PM‎‎ by daniel james   [ updated ‎‎Oct 13, 2009 4:19 PM‎‎ by Ben Tan ]

ph. 0422307790
Our first home grown Aikido Yuishinkai Nidan. Find Ben Sensei teaching on Saturday mornings!
Ben Tan, Brisbane Aikido at Griffith

Aran Bright

posted ‎‎Jun 1, 2008 6:43 PM‎‎ by daniel james   [ updated ‎‎Aug 4, 2008 9:44 PM‎‎ by Aran Bright ]


Aran Sensei has practiced in a few styles of aikido since 1996. Firstly with Ki Society (at the legendary Spring Hill dojo in town) and then laterwith Aikido Yuishinkai after joining Griffith Aikido in 2003. Aran sensei has studied a number of other arts including Hapkido whilst living in Korea and Melbourne, and more recently Systema and Karate whilst in Brisbane. 

As a remedial massage therapist, Aran is interested in the health, postural and Ki development aspects of Aikido. Aran's classes, in addition to learning technique, are filled with lots of ukemi and body preparation training. He says to expect a good workout and plenty of bad jokes!!
Aran Bright, Brisbane Aikido at Griffith

Gabrielle Paynter

posted ‎‎Jun 1, 2008 6:42 PM‎‎ by daniel james   [ updated ‎‎Oct 12, 2009 6:18 PM‎‎ by Ben Tan ]

PH: 0450 311 552
Instructor and at the heart of the social scene, Gabby has just returned from teaching Aikido in Brazil and she's back teaching at Nathan Dojo on Tuesday nights!

Jutta Dowdy - Vice President

posted ‎‎Jun 1, 2008 6:41 PM‎‎ by daniel james   [ updated ‎‎Oct 13, 2009 4:32 PM‎‎ by Ben Tan ]

Jutta Dowdy, Brisbane Aikido at Griffith(07)3378 4047 (h)
Famous for her German cooking she takes ukemi that puts many younger ones to shame. As vice president she keeps the president's spending under control, arranges gradings and the monthly fees rolling in. 

Steve Mitchell - President

posted ‎‎Jun 1, 2008 6:40 PM‎‎ by daniel james   [ updated ‎‎Oct 13, 2009 4:29 PM‎‎ by Ben Tan ]

Ph. 0432 269 534 Aikikids Head Instructor
Naturopath by trade and Aikikids (children) instructor. Steve is also our Griffith Aikido Instutute Inc. President.
Steve Mitchell, Brisbane Aikido at Griffith

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