Southen Highlands Aikido Kenkyukai


Mondays and Wednesdays 6:30 - 8:30pm
Saturday mornings 7:30 - 9:00am


Enquiries:  Jeffrey James on 0418 616 217


Our Training
Aikido is serious fun! In Aikido, we learn to become partners before we become opponents. Training is dynamic and invigorating, yet cooperative and collaborative. We move at a pace relative to the skill dynamic between partners. The greatest challenge we face in training is that of meeting and transcending our own limitations.

New students are welcome and invited to join at anytime, but are requested to contact the instructor prior to attending their first class.


Our Dojo
Aikido of the Southern Highlands, now AKI Bowral, was established in 1992 and has been associated with AKI Australia since 2000. Today the dojo is a proud member of Aikido Kenkyukai International (AKI).


Our Instructor
Jeffrey James trains under the style expressed by Takeda Yoshinobu Shihan, 8th dan, head of AKI. Takeda Shihan is one of the leading exponents of Aikido living in the world today.

Jeffrey began his practice of Aikido in 1980 whilst at University under John Turnbull Sensei (then of Aikikai, now an independent instructor). A recurrent injury forced Jeffrey to step off the mat.

In 1990 Jeffrey resumed his practice under Ken McLean Sensei (an independent instructor) with whom he trained for 11 years, achieving the rank of 3rd dan. During that time Jeffrey was instructed to open a dojo in the Southern Highlands.

After a decade Jeffrey decided it was time to seek out the root influences of McLean Sensei's style in search of a path back to the Founder of Aikido, Ueshiba Morihei (1883-1969).

In 2000 Jeffrey began training with AKI under Suzuki Yasuzuki Sensei, one of Takeda Sensei's senior students. Suzuki Sensei has devoted himself to fostering AKI Australia over the last 25 years. Training with Suzuki Sensei and the senior students of AKI Australia confirmed that Jeffrey had found the path he sought.

In 2005 he travelled to Japan with 30 other AKI students to train with Takeda Sensei and his students in celebration of 25 years of AKI in Australia. This experience was a confirming revelation that Jeffrey had found in Takeda Sensei a living manifestation of the expression of Aikido to which he aspired.