Sensei Michael Williams
Founder of Aikido Goshinkai
Founder of Byron Bay Aikido Goshinkai Dojo
Sensei Michael Paul Williams was first attracted to Aikido while visiting New Zealand in 1974, where he attended demonstrations by Master Koichi Tohei. He was a serious student of Yoga and Wing Chun Kung Fu at that time. Returning to his homeland of South Africa, he began training with Master Jean Claude Delgueldre, Chief Instructor of Aikido in South Africa. He immigrated to New Zealand in 1978 where he continued his training with the New Zealand Ki Society. He moved to Australia in 1981, where he founded Aikido Ki Society Australia and established his first dojo at Griffith University in Brisbane. In 1985 he was appointed Chief Instructor of Australia by Master Koichi Tohei, Founder of Ki Society International. At that time Master Koretoshi Maruyama was the Chief Instructor of Ki Society International and taught many seminars in Australia and New Zealand.
In 1989, Williams Sensei relocated to Byron Bay in northern NSW where he built ‘Goshinkan Dojo’. Williams Sensei resigned from Ki Society International in January 2002 after a 28-year association with the organisation. At the same time he also resigned from Aikido Ki Society Australia, the group he founded in 1981. After re-establishing contact with Master Koretoshi Maruyama, Founder of Aikido Yuishinkai, Williams Sensei was requested to facilitate the expansion of Aikido Yuishinkai throughout the world.
In October 2003 Michael Williams Sensei was appointed as International Chief Instructor of Aikido Yuishinkai.
In May 2006 Michael Williams Sensei and his family relocated to the Fiji islands to establish Aikido Yuishinkai with plans to build an outer island retreat, catering for aikido, yoga and other arts. However, due to the political upheaval in Fiji, he was unable to realise this dream. Williams sensei and his family have now returned to live in Byron Bay, Australia.
In December 2009 Master Koretoshi Maruyama honoured Michael Williams Sensei by presenting him with the level of 10th Dan level in the art of Aikido Yuishinkai.
In the beginning of 2014 Michael Williams Sensei resigned from Aikido Yuishinkai International and founded Aikido Goshinkai, named after his old ‘Goshinkan Dojo’ in Byron Bay.
Williams Sensei has trained in the art of Aikido for 40 years and has dedicated his life to spreading the principle of mind and body coordination and positive mind. He has a vast knowledge of the aikido weapons and has travelled and trained with many renowned experts of jo and bokken. He is an inspiration to many students around Australia and throughout the world. His dynamic, expressive teaching style reflects his experience, humour and compassion.
Founder of Aikido Ki Society Australia, 1981
Appointed Chief Instructor of Aikido Ki Society Australia by Master Koichi Tohei, 1985
Founder Goshinkan Dojo in Byron Bay, 1991
Founder of Aikido Yuishinkai Australia, 2002
Appointed Chief Instructor Aikido Yuishinkai International by Master Koretoshi Maruyama, 2003
Received Griffith University Distinguished Service Award, 2006
Awarded 10th Dan by Master Koretoshi Maruyama, 2010
Founder Aikido Goshinkai, 2014
Sensei Elisabeth Andel
Elisabeth Andel was introduced to the art of Aikido in 1994 by Michael Williams Sensei during an Adult Education weekend course in his Byron Bay Goshinkan Dojo, the then headquarters of the Australian Ki Society. She was immediately impressed by the way the principles of Ai (Harmony) Ki (Energy) Do (Life path) blended seamlessly into daily life and then and there became a dedicated student of the art. In 2000 she was appointed Assistant Lecturer by Master Koichi Tohei.
When Williams Sensei joined Master Koretoshi Maruyama in 2002 as International and Australian Chief Instructor of Aikido Yuishinkai, yearly Seminar World Tours were organised for Maruyama Sensei from the Australian HQ. Elisabeth Andel accompanied Maruyama Sensei and his late wife Yasuko san as PA for 8 years attending over 40 international seminars, meeting aikidoka from many countries and gaining invaluable experience and insights into the art along the way, which she shared on her return as an instructor at the Byron Bay Aikido Club.
The main lesson Elisabeth Andel has learned and wants to convey is that all action starts at the centre, tanden, the ‘one point’ in the lower abdomen. When you move with centred, smoothly flowing ki, you can move the things around you as if they were part of you. This approach to dealing with problems transfers to daily life, daily actions and conflict resolution. Through focusing and directing your ki you are in touch with the universe.
A learner goes through many stages, from the purely mechanical learning of techniques, to becoming more and more coordinated, and thus more fluent and circumspect, being able to deal with many attackers at once. The experience becomes a meditation in motion, fully centred and fully aware.
In Aikido we try to win against our own weaknesses, not to defeat a training partner. Only this kind of victory is true victory. Masakatsu agatsu.
Sensei Mark Evans
“Mark Evans has been studying Aikido since the early 90’s, has trained extensively in Aikido dojos throughout the UK, Australia, and Japan. He is a senior instructor at the Aikido Goshinkai headquarters in Byron Bay, and is a direct student of the founder Michael Williams Sensei. In 2010 he spent 12 months living in Japan as a soto-deshi with Taiki Okajima Sensei (10th Dan, Aikido Yuishinkai). His main emphasis in training is the understanding, and application, of the principles which Aikido is based on, which lead to ‘easy Aikido’ through relaxed strength. Although self defense is a key aspect in any martial art training Mark also teaches the practical application of Aikido principles in daily life.”
Sensei Michael Karkkainen
Michael K. started training with Michael Williams Sensei at the Griffith Uni dojo in Brisbane in 1985 and moved to Byron Bay with Michael Williams to help set up the Aikido school in 1989. He moved to Adelaide in 2005 where he joined John Ward Sensei’s dojo, which he took over in 2007. He moved back to Brisbane in 2009, where he trained and taught Aikido at the Griffith Uni dojo and at Redland Bay, as well as being a guest instructor at Everton Hills. Subsequently, in 2013, he returned to Byron Bay and the Byron Bay Aikido Club. He was awarded 6th Dan by Michael Williams Sensei in 2015.
Sensei Lawrence Taylor Ellyard
Lawrence started his Aikido training in 1994 with Aiki Kai Australia. In 2009 he moved to Byron Bay and undertook training with Michael Williams Sensei and has continued to train to the present day. In 2015 he was awarded 3rd Dan by Michael Williams Sensei, Founder of Aikido Goshinkai. Lawrence has studied Aikido in Japan at Hombu dojo and was a live in student ‘Uchi-deshi’ at New York Aiki Kai, training under Yoshimitsu Yamada Sensei. Lawrence has a deep interest in exploring the commonalities in a variety of Aikido styles and currently trains in Byron Bay, teaching weekly Aiki Kids classes at Byron Goshinkai Dojo, and is the Instructor at Bangalow Dojo.