History of Kenshinkai

Ken Shin Kai meaning 'The Association of Strong Heart, Mind and Spirit' was established in Portsmouth, Hampshire in 1985 under the direction of David Eayrs.

Sensei David Eayrs (Founder)

David Eayrs the founder of Ken Shin Kai was born in Portsmouth, England. David was also a founder member of the British Aikido Board. In addition to studying Aikido for over 45 years, David also holds the rank of 2nd Dan in Shotokan Karate.

In 1963, David was serving in the Army and whilst in Butterworth, Malaysia he started practising the art of Aikido with a small group of Malaysians. David was informed by the group leader that if he really wanted to understand Aikido he must meet an Instructor living on the island of Penang, Shihan Francis Ramasamy. Francis took David on as his only student until the establishment, with the help of David, of his first Dojo at the Minden Barracks, a British garrison in Georgetown, Malaysia, in 1965.

Three years later David was posted to Berlin where he began teaching Aikido to Army students and at the Municiple Academy of Police. David left the Army and returned to England in 1967 and began teaching Aikido to a small number of private students.

In addition to the tuition received from Francis Ramasamy, David also trained under Thamby Rajah, Yasuhisa Shioda, Jang En Yu and Soke Gozo Shioda.

In 1968 David was awarded Shodan by Gozo Shioda and two years later he opened his first club at Denmead in Hampshire. David worked hard to establish many Dojo's and many of his students are now Instructors in their own Dojo's. David was awarded an honourary 8th Dan in 1996 from the Executive Committee of Ken Shin Kai, in recognition of his efforts and achievements in spreading the knowledge of Yoshinkan Aikido.

Since August of 1993 David has been residing in Moscow, where he runs his own Aikido Association "Misogikan". David had worked in Russia as the Assistant Manager for a British Security Company, during his time with this company he was tasked to train Russian guards in all aspects of defence, including un-armed combat and the use of side-handled batons.

David explains, "The task was very challenging and revealing because all of the Russians employed were highly skilled practitioners of the Fighting Arts. All were ex KGB or Special Forces and therefore all techniques taught had to be proved, with the Russians having a no-nonsense approach to what is effective and what is not. Other factors also effected the choice of technique, these included the wearing of heavily padded clothing, the slippery ice-covered roads and pavements and the fact that most criminals are armed with some sort of gas or red-pepper gun. Flowing circular Aikido techniques were not possible in the winter conditions and techniques such as Irimi Nage, Irimi Tsuki and Koshi Nage seemed the most effective. It is a very macho world in Russia and the Russians have no time for the faint-hearted, but they rate Aikido very highly".

Sensei Garry Masters (Principal Coach)

The Ken Shin Kai Aikido Organisation is run by the Principal Coach and Chairman Sensei Garry Masters, 6th Dan. Garry was born in Portsmouth, Hampshire and has been practising Aikido for over 30 years.

Garry began practising Yoshinkan Aikido in 1978 under the tuition of David Eayrs. Over the years Garry has accumulated an extensive knowledge of Yoshinkan and various other styles of Aikido, receiving tuition from Shihan Francis Ramasamy, Shihan Morihiro Saito, Yasuhisa Shioda and Terada Shihan.

In addition to this he has also gained experience in Iaido, Shoto, Tanjo and won the first ever Jodo championship held in England (Mudan Section) in 1986.

Garry was Chief Instructor of Ken Shin Kai from 1985 to 1994. In 1994 Garry was elected as Principal Coach and Chairman of Ken Shin Kai by the Executive Committee, after the resignation of David Eayrs. Garry holds the ranks of 6th Dan Instructor Yoshinkan Aikido (Japan) awarded by Terada Shihan, 5th Dan Instructor Mushinkan (Malaysia), 1st Dan Jodo and 1st Dan Iaido.

Garry has travelled to Yoshinkan Hombu Dojo in Tokyo, Terada Shihans Dojo in Yokohama and has travelled three times to Malaysia to extend his knowledge of Yoshinkan Aikido in intensive training courses, instructed by Shihan Francis Ramasamy. All of this has been achieved by Sensei Garry, despite the fact that in view of a heart condition, and having suffered a brain haemorrhage, he has been advised not to participate in any type of sport or physical exercise.

In his time as Principal Coach, Garry has obtained International recognition for Ken Shin Kai, and all of its Instructors and students. Firstly by establishing Ken Shin Kai as an Independent Yoshinkan Aikido Organisation recognised by the Hombu Dojo (headquarters) for Yoshinkan Aikido worldwide in Japan, and secondly by being graded by Terada Shihan - 9th Dan Yoshinkan Aikido Instructor and awarded the Internationally recognised and authenticated rank of 6th Dan.

Sensei Garry Masters is also the only Instructor to host a seminar in the UK taught by Terada Shihan - 9th Dan Yoshinkan Aikido Instructor in April 2002.

Garry is supported in this role by his Chief Instructor, Sensei Roger Bish - 5th Dan who has also practised Yoshinkan Aikido for over 30 years.

Shihan Francis Ramasamy

Close connections are held by Ken Shin Kai with Malaysia, through the Penang Yoshinkan Aikido Association. Intensive training courses instructed by Shihan Francis Ramasamy are held at the Portsmouth Dojo and the Penang Dojo when club funds allow. Members of Ken Shin Kai have visited the Penang Dojo on five occasions and Francis Ramasamy and a few of his students visited the Portsmouth Dojo for the second time, in November 1994. These seminars allow for the exchange of Aikido knowledge between continents.

Shihan Francis Ramasamy was born in Penang, Malaysia in 1939. He has accumulated an impressive martial arts history, including training in Thai Muay Thai (Thai Boxing); Kodokan Judo 2nd Dan; Kendo 2nd Dan; and Shinden Fudo Ryu Kodachi Iai Shimpo 6th Dan.

In addition, Francis holds the rank of 7th Dan in Yoshinkan Aikido and has studied Aikido for over 45 years he has trained under many high ranking instructors including; Soke Shioda Sensei, Yagi Junchiro Sensei, Kushida Sensei, Takufumi Takeno Sensei and many others.

Francis rented various premises and even used his own house as a temporary Dojo until 1985, when he began renting his present Dojo. In addition to this Dojo situated in Penang, Francis also runs a Dojo in Kuala Lumpur. Francis has travelled to Japan on many occasions to study under Soke Gozo Shioda at the Yoshinkan Honbu. Francis has also taken part in Kangeiko (Winter Training) and trained with the Metropolitan Police in Tokyo. Francis feels that the repetitive uchikomi of Aikido reveals the truth of the ancient saying of the sage Lao Tse, "Read a book a hundred times, but do not read a hundred books at one time!"

Additional Information: About Kenshinkai, Kenshinkai Mon (Emblem), Yoshinkan History (UK)