INSTRUCTORS
Principal Instructor - Ross Taylor Sensei
(4th Dan)
Taylor Sensei began his martial arts training in Judo in the early 1970's. He later achieved Black Belt in Wado Ryu Karate and also trained for a short time in the Filipino martial art of Kali.
In 1987 Taylor Sensei stumbled upon a strange martial art where people were thrown without getting injured and appeared to actually enjoy it. He was captivated by the beauty and power of aikido and the rich philosophy and history that would eventually change his way of thinking about everything, especially confrontation.
Taylor Sensei's teacher Yoshiaki Unno Sensei was a direct student of Minoru Mochizuki Sensei, 10th Dan Yoseikan Budo. Mochizuki Sensei had trained directly under the founder of aikido, Morihei Ueshiba O'sensei. Unno Sensei advocated a strong and direct style of aikido stressing that it should be equally effective for physical confrontation but more importantly build strong character.
These same qualities are what Taylor Sensei has instilled in his students at the West Coast Aikido Academy of WA since its foundation in 1993.
Taylor Sensei feels that it is important to continue his personal development into aikido so that he can pass this on to his students. He has continued to further his studies with regular trips to Japan where he has trained under Mochizuki Sensei and his senior students. He has also trained extensively with instructors from other styles of aikido here in Perth and abroad.
Apart from aikido,
Taylor Sensei has always had a keen interest in keeping physically fit,
and has completed courses in massage and meditation.
Assistant Instructors
Claude Zabeo (2nd Dan)
Mr Zabeo began his
training in Aikido with Taylor Sensei in 1996 at the Greenwood YMCA
dojo. Receiving his rank of
1st Dan Black Belt in 1999, Mr Zabeo has been a willing and able
assistant to Taylor Sensei. He is well respected by all members of the
Aikido Academy and also by associates from other organisations.
Tom Wilson (1st Dan)
Tom started his training over thirty years ago, initially at the local Shotokan Karate Club in Glasgow, Scotland. Training with some of the best instructors in the world (including Shihan Hirokazu Kanazawa (10th Dan), Hanshi Shiro Asano (9th Dan) and Bob Rhodes 7th Dan). After 13 years training and teaching and attaining the rank of 2nd Dan Instructor, Tom decided to leave karate.
While waiting to emigrate to Australia Tom started training in Lau Gar Kung Fu for just under two years. Arriving in Perth in 1991 he found the local martial arts club which was teaching Tae Kwon Do and started training with instructor Rod Raggatt (4th Degree). Tom stayed for the next 10 years reaching 2nd Degree Black Belt Instructor level. Due to a mixture of commitments Tom moved on at the end of 2001. Early in 2002 Tom was pointed in the direction of the West Coast Aikido Academy of WA and under the watchful eye of Sensei Ross Taylor and Koga and Kita Sensei visiting from Japan gained the rank of Shodan Black Belt (1st Degree) in 2006.
Busy running his own electrical business Tom assists in class when he has time.
Lyn McCarthy (1st Kyu)
Lyn began her Aikido training in early 2001 with Ross Taylor Sensei at
the West Coast Aikido Academy in Perth Western Australia. Work and
private matters took Lyn away from her training for a while but she is
now back working towards attaining her black belt. Currently Lyn assists
Taylor Sensei with the Saturday morning children’s classes. Apart from
Aikido, Lyn has a strong interest in keeping fit and healthy and
practices Pilates weekly and likes to cycle when there is some free
time. Lyn has also completed courses in relaxation massage, senior first
aid and automated external defibrillation.
Ben McClean (1st Kyu)
With a background in boxing and weight lifting Ben joined the army in
1999 and whilst enlisted trained with other soldiers in several
different martial arts styles. After four years posting in Darwin Ben
started to look around for another martial art that had a different
philosophy. At this stage his search for aikido started to intensify and
he started to look for an aikido school in Darwin. Unfortunately he had
no luck and instead he read as much about aikido as he could and tried
to live the aikido philosophy. When Ben left the army a year later and
moved back to Perth he went searching for an aikido school straight
away. Fortunately he found the West Coast Aikido Academy in 2004 and has
since thoroughly enjoyed his time here whilst working his way through
the ranks. Ben’s job experience has seen him working with disadvantaged
youth, working in the private security industry and he has recently
started work as a Transit Officer for the PTA. While employed in these
occupations he has been able to put the physical and philosophical
skills he has learned from aikido to good use in real life situations.
Ben has also trained in mixed martial arts and has a senior first aid
certificate. Currently Ben is working towards his Aikido black belt
while assisting with the children’s classes.
Phil Morland (1st Kyu)
After playing rugby for three years Phil commenced his training in the Korean martial art of hapkido, which he studied for almost three years. After the hapkido school closed Phil searched for a similar martial art to practice and came across our Academy. Phil has now been training at the West Coast Aikido Academy of W.A since 2004 and is currently working towards the attainment of his black belt.
Phil is an assistant instructor teaching
the children’s class. During the day he runs his own concreting business
and has enrolled to study as a personal fitness trainer. Also, as his
parents are hearing impaired, Phil from an early age, learned the ASLAN
Sign Language.
Adam Beswick (2nd Kyu)
Born in the United Kingdom, Adam and his family moved to Western Australia in 1995. From a young age Adam had received extensive training in the basics of Judo from his Father before embarking on his Aikido journey.
Adam joined our Academy in 2001. After a short period where he was not able to attend training Adam came back stronger and more determined than ever and is now committed to attaining his black belt in aikido.
Adam is an assistant instructor helping out with the Saturday morning children’s classes.
Last
updated:
Wednesday, 04 July 2007
Web site by Lyn McCarthy