GO SHIN KAI
AIKIDO
GSK OFFICERS
Paul Wilkes, 6th Dan
Principal
Sensei Paul Wilkes has over 50 years experience in Aikido and weapons knowledge handed down from Shihan K Chiba and Shihan W J Smith.(MBE) and Shihan Michael Smith . He moved steadily through the ranks Fukushidoin to Shidoin as a member of the United Kingdom Aikikai together with Sensei Roger Douras.
Paul has been greatly influenced by Shihan W J Smith (MBE) and is eternally grateful for the knowledge which he passed on to us all.
He was awarded Shodan in 1979 by Shihan K. Chiba and Nidan in 1988, Sandan in 1989 by Shihans K. Chiba and W. J. Smith (United Kingdom Aikikai) and promoted to Rokudan in 2014 by Shihan Gordon Jones in 2014.
Sensie Paul Wilkes was voted in as Go Shin Kai Principal by its members in Oct 2022, a position that he is proud and humbled to hold, following the death of Mike Smith in April 2022, to whom he is indebted for his weapons training.
He is a Senior Instructor and the association principal at the Go Shin Kai Headquarters Dojo (Ren Sei Kan) at Kidderminster.
Roger Douras, 6th Dan
Deputy Principal
Sensei Roger Douras also has over 50 years experience in Aikido and weapons knowledge handed down from Shihan K Chiba and Shihan W J Smith.(MBE) and Shihan Michael Smith . He moved steadily through the ranks Fukushidoin to Shidoin as a member of the United Kingdom Aikikai together with Sensei Paul Wilkes.
He was awarded Shodan in 1979 by Shihan K. Chiba and Nidan in 1988, Sandan in 1989 by Shihans K. Chiba and W. J. Smith (United Kingdom Aikikai) and promoted to Rokudan in 2014 by Shihan Gordon Jones in 2014.
Steve Brignall
Chairman
Steve started Aikido in Seaham, Co. Durham in 1971 aged 16, training under Ron Myers, one of Chiba Sensei's first dan grades in the UK. Whilst at Manchester University, Steve continued practicing at the Lancaster Aikikai under Mario Mucha and Bob Spence. After moving to Gloucestershire in 1977, he started his long friendship with Dennis Cantillion.
He has trained with many of O’Sensei’s last direct students, including Chiba Sensei, Tamura Sensei, Yamada Sensei and Segano Sensei; and has been to Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Japan twice.
Steve gained Shodan (1st dan) in 1995 under Shihan William Smith, MBE and Yondan (4th dan) in 2020 under Sensei Michael Smith. Steve is also a Shidoin (senior instructor). He has been a BAB Coach Level 1 since 1998 and Coach Level 2 since 2022, and teaches on Sundays in Painswick.
Mike Smith, SHIHAN
Former Principal
Sensei Michael Smith has over 50 years experience in aikido and a wealth of weapons knowledge handed down from Shihan’s Chiba and Smith.
Shihan Michael Smith has worked his way up through the ranks from Head Fukushidoin, to the position of Shidoin while he was a member of the United Kingdom Aikikai.
A senior member for many years, he sat on the Technical committee and was also a trustee for Ren Shin Kan until the dojo moved from its Old Hill home.
His wealth of knowledge, handed down from Shihan William Smith, has proved to be invaluable to all students who have had his instruction whether they be regardless of organisation loyalties.
Throughout his Aikido career Mike Smith has maintained ties with many of the UK’s senior instructors who head their own organisations.
Mike was awarded Shihan by Hombu on 1 April shortly before his untimely and unexpected death on 20 April. He is a huge loss to all of us.
Dennis Cantillion
Deputy Principal
Dennis started out in martial arts with Judo in the 1960s at the Dowty Judo club, where he was a local champion; and encountered Aikido when it was introduced into the UK via Abbe Sensei through various Judo dojos.
He originally trained in Aikido with Ken Williams Sensei at "The Hut" and received direct instruction from Noro Sensei and Nakazono Sensei, two of O'Sensei's direct students prior to the arrival of Chiba Sensei in the late 1960s. This relationship with Chiba Sensei was further enhanced through the British Aikido Federation and Kenetsuka Sensei.
When the United Kingdom Aikikai separated from the BAF, the Gloucester Aikido Club became very closely linked with Shihan William Smith, MBE, another Chiba Sensei protégé and Dennis's Aikido developed further moving through the black belt (dan) ranks.
Dennis was awarded 6th Dan by the Doshu, Aikikai Foundation Hombu Dojo on his 70 birthday. He is Shidoin and deputy principal of the Go Shin Kai association.
Dennnis is currently not practicing due to illness.
Patrick Palmer
Data Protection Officer
Patrick start Aikido under the instruction of Shihan William "Bill" Smith and Sensei Mike Smith in 1995.
He was promoted to Shodan in 2001 by Shihan Smith, Nidan in 2004 again by Shihan Smith, Sandan in 2010 by Shihan Gordon Jones and Yondan in 2015 again by Shihan Jones.
Patrick has visited Japan twice and gained instuction from many at Hombu especially Shihan's Kobayashi Yukimitsu, Sugawara Shigeru and one of Nishio's Uchideshi's Shishiya Ichiro Sensei. He has also had the pleasure of traing and meeting Aikikiai's current Doshu (Head of Aikikai), Ueshiba Moriteru.
A Fukushidoin with UKA since 2002, Patrick has been BAB level1 coach and teaching for 19 years in Birmingham and Kidderminster. He now has Shidoin status and regulary teaches on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Darren Wells
Treasurer & Registrar
Darren began practising Aikido in 1995 under Dennis Cantillion at Gloucester.
He gained Shodan (1st dan) in 2005 under Mr. William Smith MBE, Nidan (2nd dan) in 2011 under Mr. Gordan Jones, Sandan (3rd dan) in 2017 and Yondan (4th dan) in 2021 under Shihan Michael Smith.
Darren visited Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Japan in 2017 where he was privileged to meet and train with Moriteru Ueshiba, the current Doshu (Head of the Aikikai).
He has been a BAB Level 1 coach since 2011 and is Shidoin.
Darren teaches regularly at Painswick on Tuesdays.
Barbara Sotowicz
Coaching Liaison Officer
Barbara took up Aikido in 1977, while a student, at the University College London (UCL) Aikido Club. She became a BAB qualified coach in 1989 and CL3 in 2003. She was awarded Shidoin rank in 2008 and 6th Dan in 2020.
Barbara’s first teachers were students Barry Hutchinson and Peter Goldsbury. She has studied with: Mr M. Kanetsuka (1983-1994); Mr William Smith, MBE (1994–2006); currently with Mr Mike Smith.
Barbara has experience in the running and teaching of four Aikido clubs. At the UCL Aikido Club she was a club officer and from 1986, its principal instructor. Over 1985 -1994, UCL Aikido and Mr Kanetsuka’s Ryushinkan club were closely associated and Barbara had the responsibility of being a Ryushinkan club officer and instructor. At UCL, adapting to changing circumstances, Barbara worked with students and alumni on two status changes for the club. In 2004, it transferred from Student Union (SU) society status to a SU fitness centre ‘Martial Arts Activity’, re-named in 2013 to ‘Bloomsbury Aikido Club’. Secondly, in 2014-15, this was reorganised into two parts – a revived UCL Aikido student society and its alumni counterpart, the Bloomsbury Aikido Club. In 2018, Barbara started classes in Cheltenham: the Cheltenham & Bloomsbury Aikido Club.
To support the UCL club with continuity, experience, teaching Barbara established, in 2013, the UCL Alumni Aikido & Friends Group. In 2017 Barbara passed on the teaching, of the UCL Aikido Club to talented Bloomsbury/UCL/Alumni instructors - now headed by Ara Schorscher-Petcu. Barbara is the UCL Club’s GSK Shidoin and maintains Bloomsbury Aikido in London post-2017 to organise special courses.