Recently, Aikido Renshinkai lost a legendary teacher and early supporter of the organization, David Eayrs Sensei, who passed away from lung complications in Moscow, Russia this past May. Aikido Renshinkai extends its deepest condolences to all the friends, family, and aikidoka whose lives were touched by his. We present you with this interview of David Sensei and his aikido story.
Click here for the full interview of David Eayrs Sensei conducted in 2018 with an excerpt below
HS (honbu staff member): Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions today.
ES (David Eayrs Sensei): Not at all. I’m happy to help anyway I can.
HS: Thank you. It is much appreciated.
I think many Aikido Renshinkai members are aware that you are largely responsible for the spread of Gozo Shioda Sensei’s aikido in Russia. However, I think fewer members are aware of some of the other experiences that have contributed to your path in aikido. Would you kindly tell the story of how you got started in aikido.
ES: Of course.
In 1962 while serving in the British Army I was posted with my family to Malaysia on the small island called Penang. At this time I was practicing karate, so upon arrival and for some time afterward I searched the island to find a dojo where I could practice. However, I could not seem to find any karate dojo.
One day a friend told me that on the mainland he had seen a group of people practicing ….
Click here for the full interview of David Eayrs Sensei