Joe Thambu Shihan

Joe Thambu Shuseki Shihan began his martial arts journey at the age of 11. His first teacher was his uncle Thamby Rajah Sensei, the first Malaysian to achieve black belts in Aikido and Judo, and founder of first Malaysian aikido dojo – the Shudokan Institute of Aikido. Through his teenage years, he also trained in Kendo and Shindo Muso Ryu Jodo. In 1980, at the age of 19, he moved to Australia and established Aikido Shudokan in Melbourne.

He has trained under great Yoshinkan style teachers in the world such as Shioda Gozo Soke, Inoue Kyoichi Hanshi, Chida Tsutomu Shihan and Takeno Takefumi Shihan and other world-renowned martial artists including Thamby Rajah Sensei, Don Draeger Sensei, Soke Obata Toshishiro, the founder of Shinkendo and Shihan Nariyama Tetsuro, the Chief Instructor of Tomiki Aikido.

In 1993, Thambu Shihan was the last person to be graded by Yoshinkan Aikido founder Gozo Shioda. At only 32 years of age, he became the youngest non-Japanese to be awarded a 5th Dan in Yoshinkan Aikido. In 2015, Thambu Shihan was awarded his 8th dan by Kyoichi Inoue Hanshi, former director of Yoshinkan Aikido.

Thambu Shihan continues to teach and promote his fast, effective and battle tested system of Aikido in Australia and abroad. Several times a year he travels to various countries in Europe, UK, SE Asia and Americas to teach seminars and workshops. Aikido Shudokan International continues to expand globally under his guidance with 30 dojos in 10 countries.

Read more about our history and lineage at Aikido Shudokan International https://aikidoshudokaninternational.com/about-us/