Aikido Shudokan

The Uchideshi Gasshuku 2026 has officially come to an end!

After 12 days of intense training, learning and pushing each other further, the Gasshuku has shown that it’s not only about how you perform at your strongest. When you’re at your most tired, your weakest and have nothing left to give, that’s when you really see what someone is made of.

Congratulations to all the Uchideshi Gasshuku students for completing the 12 days and giving everything on the mat. The intensity of the training pushed everyone beyond their comfort zone, testing their technique, discipline and determination every step of the way.

The Gasshuku may be over, but the intensity and spirit of the training will carry forward into every dojo.

OSU!

Ask any of our black belts what changed for them and almost none of them will start with technique. They'll talk about patience they didn't used to have, or how they handle pressure differently now, or how training taught them to sit with frustration instead of quitting when things don't click straight away. The belt is really just a marker. The actual mastery is quieter than that — it's in how you show up, on and off the mat.

Aikido Shudokan.

The history of Aikido Shudokan begins with Thamby Rajah Sensei, the Father of Malaysian Aikido, who established the original Shudokan dojo in Seremban after returning from Japan and training under Soke Gozo Shioda. From those beginnings, Shudokan grew through generations of dedicated students and instructors, carrying the teachings and spirit of Yoshinkan Aikido across Asia, Australasia, Europe and the Americas.

Continuing this lineage is Joe Thambu Shihan, who began training under his uncle, Thamby Rajah Sensei, at just 11 years old before going on to establish Aikido Shudokan Australia and become Chief Instructor of Aikido Shudokan International.

The Uchideshi Gasshuku in Malaysia has given participating students the chance to experience this history firsthand. Alongside the demanding training, they have had the privilege of hearing Joe Thambu Shihan share memories and stories from growing up here in Malaysia, training with Thamby Rajah Sensei and witnessing the early development of Shudokan. These stories have brought the history of the organisation to life for the next generation.

OSU!

An important part of the Uchideshi Gasshuku is bringing students from all over the world together on the same mat. Aikido Shudokan has dojos across Australia, Europe, Asia and America, creating a truly international community connected through Aikido. Students from different countries, dojos and backgrounds come together to train side by side, sharing the same foundations and spirit.

During the Gasshuku, the Uchideshi students had the honour of visiting and training at Ramlan Sensei’s dojo. Training alongside his students brought a great atmosphere to the mat, with new training partners, new challenges and plenty of opportunities to test themselves. It was a fantastic session filled with energy, strong training and the chance to connect with fellow students through Aikido.

OSU!

The Uchideshi Gasshuku has brought teachers from Australia and the UK into the kids’ classes in Malaysia, giving them the opportunity to share their own teaching styles while learning from each other. It’s been a great exchange of knowledge and experience, with the students getting to train under a variety of instructors and approaches.

While each instructor brings their own personality and methods to the mat, the foundations and spirit of Aikido remain the same. The kids get to experience different ways of learning while developing the same core values of discipline, respect, awareness and teamwork.

With fast-paced training, focus and plenty of energy on the mat, the students have been challenging themselves and pushing each other further every session. 🥋🇲🇾

The Uchideshi Gasshuku is more than intensive Aikido training — it is an opportunity to experience the deeper meaning of Budo through everyday practice. Budo, meaning the “martial way,” goes beyond technique and physical ability. It is a path of discipline, self-development and perseverance, refining both body and mind.
The Uchideshi experience brings these principles beyond the dojo. The demanding schedule encourages students to embrace challenges, stay focused and keep moving forward when things become difficult. Budo is not only practised during training, but carried throughout each day.
Now halfway through the Gasshuku, the intensity is only increasing! Each session pushes everyone to challenge their limits and raise the standard. With students supporting and motivating one another, the energy on the mat continues to build — and there’s no slowing down for the second half! 💪🥋🇲🇾

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcMnwbeKR_g Throwback Thursday 🥋 If you've ever wondered what actually happens in our kids classes, this old clip still says it best. It's not just kicks and throws — it's respect, discipline, cooperation, and focus, taught in a way kids genuinely enjoy. Parents, this is the "why" behind the mat time.

Aikido Shudokan Kids Special A short overview of the Aikido Shudokan childrens class. Kids devel...

After three days into the Uchideshi Gasshuku with hard training, pushing ourselves beyond limits, and learning each session.

Taking a trip to waterfalls in the Malaysian scenery to relax and take in views.

A perfect way to recharge, reflect, and enjoy the experience together.

And prepare for more hard training to come.
OSU!

Before any student learns to throw or pin, they learn to bow — to their instructor, their training partner, the dojo itself. It’s not a formality. It sets the tone for everything that follows: listen first, watch closely, take turns, look out for the person you’re training with. Kids pick up more from that structure than they realise — how to take instruction, how to lose gracefully, how to treat training partners of every age and skill level with the same respect. That’s the real first technique.

Aikido Shudokan — The Art of Harmony.