A Little Word About us
Seibukan Aikido UK is a not for profit organization. We are dedicated to practicing traditional Aikido based on the teaching of Ueshiba Morihei under the direction of our Shihan, Nakao Shingo Sensei, Aikikai 7th Dan.
our history
The club was originally formed in Olney circa 1980 by Alan Sanders and Roger Nye, and moved to Milton Keynes in 1982 to become Milton Keynes Aikido Club. Originally, the club was a member of the Kai Shin Kai. In 1995 the club became part of Yama Arashi UK. Alan retired in 1996 and Ray Munns, one of Alan’s original students became Dojocho.
In 2002 the club joined the Lancashire Aikikai. Ray retired in February 2010 and Bryan Bateman, another of Alan’s original students became Dojocho. Bryan has been a student of Nakao Shingo sensei of the Seibukan Dojo in Kobe, Japan since 1996. In April 2011, after 16 years of regular visits to the Seibukan, Nakao Sensei offered Bryan the opportunity to head the Seibukan’s first and only overseas dojo, and through that, link to the Aikikai Hombu dojo.
We became an independent not for profit organization in July 2011. The club was renamed Seibukan Aikido UK and Nakao sensei became our Technical Director.
Seibukan Aikido UK is the UK Shibu dojo of the Seibukan Dojo in Kobe.
Seibukan Aikido UK is an associate member of the UK Aikikai, and through that affiliated to the Joint Aikikai Council.
Our chief instructor is Bryan Bateman.
Our Instructors
Nakao Shingo
Nakao sensei has been practicing aikido for more than 45 years and is an Aikikai 7th Dan. His main influences are Yamaguchi Sensei and Endo Sensei.
Nakao sensei is the Kancho at the Seibukan Dojo in Kobe and also the Aikikai Hombu representative for Hyogo Ken.
He is the Shihan and Technical Director for Seibukan Aikido UK.
Bryan Bateman
Kaicho
Bryan began training in 1992 at the Milton Keynes dojo. He has been visiting and training in Japan annually since 1996. He lived and trained extensively in Tokyo 2001 – 2003. Bryan was recommended for 5th Dan by Nakao Sensei and promoted by Hombu Dojo in Tokyo, in January 2024.
Training in Japan
We make regular visits to Japan to train with Nakao Sensei and our friends at our parent dojo in Kobe.
All our students are welcome to join us on these trips.