Joe Thambu

Joe Thambu Shihan, 8th Dan Aikido and Chief Instructor of Aikido Shudokan International, has been a practitioner of Aikido, “the Way of Harmony”, for 48 years. He began Aikido with his uncle, Thamby Rajah Sensei, in Malaysia, and at the age of 19 years old, he travelled to Australia and opened the first Yoshinkan Aikido dojo in Melbourne. In 1993, Thambu Shihan became the youngest non-Japanese student of Aikido to be graded to the rank of 5th Dan. Soon after, he received the Blitz (martial arts magazine) “Hall of Fame Aikido Instructor of the Year” award. In 2012, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Asia Pacific Open University of Martial Arts for his lifelong contribution to martial arts. In acknowledgement of his skill, exemplary character and his dedication to his students and the art, he has been awarded the title “Shihan”, which translates to “master teacher” or “model teacher”. This is all recognised by the constant stream of international visitors to his schools, and invitations to teach locally and internationally. Thambu Shihan’s ability to apply Aikido in many ways makes him a much sought after public speaker at training seminars for corporate and local government sectors. His martial training with years of crowd control experience also enables him to share real accounts of Aikido embodiment in action. He is passionate about sharing how the physicality and culture of Aikido helps people to become more aware, of self and others, and grow.