Seiryukan – 清流館

We are members of Renshinkai Aikido Japan (合気道錬身会) and follow the teachings of Tsutomu Chida Sensei with close links and regular visits to Japan. Soke Chida Sensei was Gozo Shioda’s (塩田 剛三) longest serving uchi-deshi an apprenticeship served living and training in the dojo full time. From this and his continued long training he has developed a teaching style that offers clear concise teaching without the chance of misinterpretation.

We run our club under the same principles as Renshinkai Japan spreading the teachings of Gozo Shioda (塩田 剛三) as a non profit club.

Tsutomu Chida – 千田 務

Renshinkai Aikido is under 8th-dan Tsutomu Chida-Soke, a top uchideshi of the late founder of Yoshinkan Aikido, Gozo Shioda-Sensei. Chida-Soke is working hard to guide the next generation of leaders and teachers by instilling in them the techniques and spirit that he inherited from Gozo Shioda-Sensei.

Chida-Soke was an uchideshi of Gozo Shioda-Sensei from 1971 and has had the longest career at the Yoshinkan Aikido Honbu. Even after the passing of Gozo Shioda-Sensei in 1994, Chida-Soke continued his support for 13 years until December of 2007 when he retired from the Yoshinkan Honbu. In April of 2008, he decided to move on from the Yoshinkan organization and established Aikido Renshinkai.

Chida-Soke’s demonstrations and clinics are much sought-after both throughout Japan and around the world. It has been his calling to pass on accurately to the next generation the Aikido that he received from Gozo Shioda-Sensei; accordingly he continues to contribute to the expansion of Aikido.

  • 1950 – Born in Tokyo

  • 1969 – Joined the Yoshinkan

  • 1971 – Began training as a Yoshinkan uchideshi

  • 1987 – Awarded the title of Shihan

  • 1988 – Appointed Yoshinkan Instructor of Tokyo Metropolitan Police Academy

  • 1993 – Awarded 8th Dan

  • 1994 – Appointed Chief Technical Instructor of Yoshinkan Headquarters

  • 2002 – Appointed Chief Instructor of Yoshinkan Headquarters

  • 2007 – Officially retired from the Yoshinkan

  • 2008 – Assumed role of Chief Instructor of Aikido Renshinkai

  • 2008 – Received Special Recognition Award from Tokyo Metropolitan Police Academy

Chida Soke as uke for Gozo Shioda Sensei

Dominic Chapman

Dominic Chapman Sensei is dojocho of Seiryukan and teaches the lessons in our Haywards Heath dojo.
He started training in 2006 under Tony Hughes Sensei in sutton, here he became hooked on Yoshinkan Aikdio and developed the love of the art. While continuing to train with Hughes Sensei, he also started training with Jonz Wale Sensei and Malcolm Crawford Sensei of Goryukai. At this period in time training sometimes up to 5 days a week. Later he started training with just Wale Sensei under Mushinjuku dojo based in Haywards Heath. This is where he received his 1st and 2nd Dan under both Jacques Payet Sensei and Wale Sensei. After yearly visits since 2011 to Japan to see Chida Soke, Chapman Sensei joined Renshinkai Aikido in 2016 under Chida Soke. Chapman Sensei continues to travel regularly to Japan to train with Renshinkai and Chida Soke.

  • 2006 – Began Studying Aikido

  • 2011 – Received 1st Dan

  • 2011 – First time training with Chida Soke in Japan

  • 2013 – Received 2nd Dan

  • 2016 – Joined Renshinkai

  • 2017 – Given the name Seiryukan by Chida Soke

  • 2017 – Received 3rd Dan

Read our beginners blog

For more information about what to expect and what to bring for your first free lesson, read our blog post by Claire

Beginners Guide to Aikido Classes

Start Your Aikido Journey

We provide a welcoming environment for beginners

Read our beginners page to find more information about Aikido and our club Renshinkai Aikido in Sussex, Haywards Heath. If you have any questions before you come for your free trial lesson then please don’t hesitate to contact us

BOOK A LESSON