Paul began his Aikido practice in 1977 at Slough Aikido Club and Oxford where he gained his Shodan with Kanetsuka Sensei in 1987. A great influence in Paul's life has been Mr. Smith and in 1989 Paul became a member of the West Midlands Aikikai, later the UKA.
In 1991 Paul graded to Nidan with Chiba Sensei, and in 1997 Sandan with Mr. Smith. He has been Fuku Shidoin (Assistant National Coach) since 1988 and promoted to Shidoin (National Coach) in 2008. He also has British Aikido Board recognition as Coach and Children's Coach.
Paul has been privileged to train with a number of Japanese Sensei's during his 25 years (so far) practicing Aikido, among them are Chiba Shihan, Shibata, Tamura, Yamada, Asai, Kitaura, Saito, Sugano, Fujita, Ikeda, Kanetsuka, one of the highlights being Moriteru Ueshiba at Summer School 1992.
In more recent years Paul's Aikido career has not only been influenced by some of the great Japanese Sensei's but also by Peter Brady and when the UKA House System began, Slough Aikido Club affiliated to Myo Shin Juku House headed by Brady Sensei.
