About Aikido Shudokan
Four decades of traditional Aikido in Melbourne, taught by instructors who have trained here for most of their lives.
40+ Years in Melbourne
See a Class in Action
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A Timeline of Lineage & Milestones
From the samurai-era founders of Daito-ryu Aiki-jujutsu through to the dojo in Melbourne today.
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1859–1943
Sokaku Takeda
Born into a samurai family in Aizu-Wakamatsu, Japan. Founder of Daito-ryu Aiki-jujutsu — the root art from which Aikido descends — teaching that smaller practitioners could defeat stronger foes by leveraging an opponent's own momentum.
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1883–1969
Morihei Ueshiba
Known as "O Sensei." Studied under Sokaku Takeda and renamed the art "Aiki Budo" in 1936, evolving it into "Aikido" by 1942 — Aikido's founding father.
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1915–1994
Shioda Gozo Soke
Studied directly under Morihei Ueshiba from 1932, becoming one of his most formidable students. After the war, he founded Yoshinkan Aikido in 1955, distilling the art into a highly structured, practical system. His method became the standard for law enforcement training across Japan, including the Tokyo Riot Police, and remains one of the most widely practised styles of Aikido in the world today.
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1926–2022
Thamby Rajah Sensei
Known as the "Father of Aikido in Malaysia." Earned his Black Belt in Judo at the Kodokan in Tokyo before turning to Aikido, and established Malaysia's first full-time dojo in 1961. He trained many of the instructors who went on to spread Yoshinkan Aikido across South East Asia — and his dojo is where a young Joe Thambu began training in 1972.
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1935–2017
Inoue Kyoichi Hanshi
Began training under Shioda Gozo at age 15 and dedicated his life to Yoshinkan Aikido. Became a full-time instructor in 1969 and, in 1991, achieved the rare 10th Dan ranking — held by only a handful of practitioners worldwide. He travelled internationally to teach and examine students, including overseeing gradings for Aikido Shudokan's own instructors in Melbourne.
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1972
Joe Thambu Begins Training
A young Joe Thambu begins martial arts training in Malaysia — the start of a journey that would bring Aikido to Melbourne.
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1980
Aikido Shudokan Founded
Joe Thambu emigrates to Melbourne and establishes Aikido Shudokan, having trained at the Yoshinkan Hombu Dojo in Japan under Gozo Shioda and Kyoichi Inoue.
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1993
Youngest Non-Japanese 5th Dan
At age 32, Joe Thambu becomes the youngest non-Japanese practitioner awarded 5th Dan in Yoshinkan Aikido.
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2007
Awarded the Shihan Title
Joe Thambu becomes the first non-Japanese person awarded the Shihan title by Aikido Yoshinkai International.
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2015
Awarded 8th Dan
Joe Thambu is awarded 8th Dan, recognising decades of teaching, technical mastery and contribution to the art.
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2023
“Budo: The Art of Being”
Joe Thambu co-publishes "Budo: The Art of Being," sharing decades of martial arts philosophy with a wider audience.
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Today
A Living, Global Lineage
Aikido Shudokan continues under Joe Thambu Shihan (8th Dan) and Enrica Cheung Kyoshi, part of a global Aikido family that includes Aikido Shudokan International and Inoue Aiko Kaicho's Aikido Nisshinkan in Japan.
Founded By Experience, Guided By Integrity
Aikido Shudokan traces its roots through six generations of masters — from the samurai-era founders of Daito-ryu Aiki-jujutsu through to Joe Thambu Shihan, who established our dojo in Melbourne in 1980. Today, our team of instructors carries that lineage forward across our three dojos, teaching with the same clarity, structure and purpose the art was built on.
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Unbroken Lineage
Taught As It Was Taught
Every instructor on our team can trace their training directly back through this lineage — the same principles taught in 1980 are the ones taught in class today.
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14 Countries
Part Of A Global Family
Our Melbourne dojo is home to Aikido Shudokan International, the organisation Joe Thambu Shihan leads to preserve and share traditional Yoshinkan Aikido worldwide. Affiliated dojos now teach across 14 countries — including the UK, USA, Belgium, Poland, Ukraine, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Indonesia and Malaysia — all tracing their training back to the same lineage taught here at home.
World Class Martial Arts Instruction At Your Doorstep
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Joe Thambu Shihan
Shuseki Shihan · 8th Dan
Chief Instructor of Aikido Shudokan and one of the most senior Yoshinkan-lineage teachers outside Japan, teaching internationally for over four decades.
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Enrica Cheung Sensei
Kyoshi · 6th Dan
With unmatched time on the mat — a former full-time uchideshi turned decade-long instructor — Enrica Sensei is now the senior Instructor in the dojo, driven by helping students be their best on and off the mat.
Our Instructors
From decades of experience to the newest Fuku Shidoin — teaching across all three Melbourne dojos.
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Fulori Smith
Shidoin · 5th Dan
Over 20 years of training experience, with 10 years spent as uchideshi (full time student) Fulori Sensei loves passing the kids-class lessons on to a new generation.
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Bart Lea
Shidoin · 5th Dan
Achieved his Shodan under Tsuneo Ando Shihan in Japan, Bart brings that firsthand traditional experience to every class, with a focus on precise, effective technique.
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Rodney McLeod
Sensei · 5th Dan
Rodney's background spans Karate, Aikido and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and he draws on all three to round out students' understanding of movement, distance and control.
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Adam Hoddinott
Fuku Shidoin · 4th Dan
Spent years quietly assisting before earning his Fuku Shidoin title in 2020, and now teaches at Bentleigh with that same patient, supportive approach.
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Lena Lee
Sensei · 3rd Dan
With her background as an Early Childhood Teacher, Lena leads the dojo's Wee Warriors class for ages 3–5, introducing the youngest students to Aikido through play.
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Greg Hsiao
Sensei · 3rd Dan
Started training in his 40s to get his kids on the mat, and got hooked himself — now this dentist by day loves passing that same balance on to younger students.
Still Got Questions?
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