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History Of the Oakdale Club
It was started by the present principal instructor Sensei Peter Thomas (6th Dan). Sensei Thomas started practicing Aikido in 1967 with Sensei Ken Williams, one of the original members who practiced Aikido when it was first introduced to Britain more than 50 years ago.
It took Sensei Thomas five years to obtain his dan grade . It was after he had been awarded his dan grade that Sensei Thomas started a local club, the Oakdale Aikido Club. Oakdale Aikido Club has been affiliated to a number of Aikido associations. Naturaly at its inception the club was associated with that of Sensei William's and the Aikikai of Wales.In 1986 it was decided that as Sensei William's move towards Ki Aikido, and Oakdale wanted to remain with the traditional style of Aikido, that the club would resign from the Aikikai of Wales and looked to join another association which was more traditionally minded. It was decided that it would be beneficial to the club if it joined the Institute of Aikido under the direction of Sensei Hayden Foster.
At that time Sensei Foster, another of the original group, was seen as a beacon of triditional Aikido. The club enjoyed more than ten years association with the Institute Of Aikido and in this time Sensei Thomas was made technical director for Aikido in Wales. During these years Sensei Thomas practiced with a number of Japanese instructors including Sensei Tamura.
He also attended numerous courses at the headquarters of the Institute of Aikido in London.
However, in 1997 it was felt that the Institute was no longer leading the way in traditional Aikido and for that reason, Oakdale Aikido Club joined one of the largest Aikido Associations in Britain; That of Shin-Gi-Tai, under the direction of Shihan Gwynne Jones. Sensei Thomas has continued to upgrade his skills and regularly attends courses throughout south Wales. |
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