Aikido Tendoryu Aikido About the Dojo Instructor
Aikido
Studying former Japanese martial arts (i.e. Jiu-Jitsu and sword fighting) Morihei Ueshiba sensei (1883-1969) developed a complete new system of weaponless self defence : Aikido.
A way (do) to harmonise (ai) the body with spiritual powers (ki).
Aikido does not include any competition. An attack will be transformed into circular or spirial motion breaking the balance of the opponent. The energy of an attack will not be blocked, but directed back against the attacker.
Recognising an attack already by its intention and therewith neutralising it, is the ultimate objective.
According to Ueshiba sensei, invincibility could be explained by the complete absence of all fixing thoughts leading to the inner self.
Tendoryu Aikido
Kenji Shimizu, born in 1940 in Fukuoka, Japan, had been in his younger days an excellent martial artist with the 4th dan in Judo when he changed to the art of Aikido in 1963.
He then became one of the last personal students of Ueshiba sensei. After Ueshiba sensei had died in 1969 Shimizu sensei, then with the 7th dan in Aikido, founded his own school in Tokyo named Tendoryu (ten : heaven, do : way, ryu : school).
In 1991, Shimizu sensei received the 8th dan Aikido from the Japanese Budo Federation, and is presently one of the highest ranking Aikido teachers in the world.
Since 1978, Shimizu sensei has continually held seminars in Germany and other European countries. Resulting in the official founding of the German Tendoryu Society in 1992.
Tendoryu Aikido is characterised by its large and clear movements and convinces spectators and students by its smooth and harmonic flow of motion.
About the Dojo
Tendoryu Aikido (Singapore) was founded in 1998 by Peter Nawrot (4th dan) and Birgit Lauenstein (4th dan), both of whom had trained for more than 7 years at Tendokan, dojo of Kenji Shimizu sensei, founder of the Tendoryu style of Aikido.
The current resident instructor is Tan Chee Wei (2nd dan).
Instructor
Tan Chee Wei sensei has been teaching Aikido since 1990. First as an Assistant Instructor with Aikikai Singapore, then as an Instructor with Tendoryu Singapore.
He spent 2 months training intensively at the Japan Aikido Headquarters (Hombu) under various instructors, including Kisshomaru Ueshiba sensei, son of founder Morihei Ueshiba sensei.
After his return from Japan, a meeting with Peter Nawrot sensei resulted in him joining Tendoryu Aikido (Singapore) as an Instructor.
He was awarded his 2nd dan by Tendoryu Aikido, Japan in 2000, and has continued to upgrade himself by visiting Tendokan, and training under Kenji Shimizu sensei, founder of Tendoryu Aikido.
His most recent visit was in 2009, where he attended the Tendoryu Aikido's 40th Anniversary training seminar conducted by Kenji Shimizu sensei in Izu, Japan.