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 (3rd 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 (2nd 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.
Murat Aktas (2nd Dan)
Murat commenced training in aikido in 2001 with the Jan DeJong Martial Arts Academy in Perth Western Australia.
In 2003 Murat joined the West Coast Aikido Academy of WA. His previous experience was soon recognized as he started to move up in rank. In 2005 Murat was asked by Taylor Sensei if he would like to assist with the children’s classes. Murat accepted and obliged by assisting when he could.
In December 2006 Murat successfully passed his Shodan (1st Degree Black Belt) test with West Coast Aikido. His Shodan rank was also recognized by the International Seifukai Budo Federation in Japan.
During his travels Murat has also experienced training in aikido with prominent sensei’s in his homeland of Turkey and also with Taylor Sensei’s teachers Koga Sensei and Kita Sensei in Tokyo.
Ben McClean (1st Dan)
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 has recently attained his black belt while assisting with the children’s classes.
Phil Morland (1st Dan)
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 has recently attained his black belt.
Phil is an assistant instructor teaching the children’s class, and also a Master Personal trainer. As his parents are hearing impaired, Phil learned the ASLAN Sign Language from an early age.
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.
Adam Beswick (1st 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.
Robert Batten & Brad Palmer
Are both assistant instructors for the Childrens Classes.
Last updated: Tuesday, 10 February 2009 by Brad Palmer
Web site by Lyn McCarthy