Instructors – Byron Bay Aikido Club

Master Michael Paul Williams

Byron Bay – Senior Dojo Instructor

Founder Aikido Goshinkai

Founder of Aikido Ki Society Australia, 1981

Appointed Chief Instructor of Aikido Ki Society Australia by Master Koichi Tohei, 1985

Founder Goshinkan Dojo in Byron Bay, 1991

Founder of Aikido Yuishinkai Australia, 2002

Appointed Chief Instructor Aikido Yuishinkai International by Master Koretoshi Maruyama, 2003

Received Griffith University Distinguished Service Award, 2006

Awarded 10^th Dan by Master Koretoshi Maruyama, 2010

Founder Aikido Goshinkai, 2014

0449820980
mw.aikido@gmail.com

Michael Karkkainen

Byron Bay – Dojo-cho

Michael K. started training with Michael Williams Sensei at the Griffith Uni dojo in Brisbane in 1985 and moved to Byron Bay with Michael Williams to help set up the Aikido school in 1989. He moved to Adelaide in 2005 where he joined John Ward Sensei’s dojo, which he took over in 2007. He moved back to Brisbane in 2009, where he trained and taught Aikido at the Griffith Uni dojo and at Redland Bay, as well as being a guest instructor at Everton Hills. Subsequently, in 2013, he returned to Byron Bay and the Byron Bay Aikido Club. He was awarded 6th Dan by Michael Williams Sensei in 2015.

Joanne Martin

Joanne started studying the art of aikido in nineteen ninety eight and has trained under Michael Williams Sensei, the founder, for the majority of that time as well as attending yearly seminars from the Japanese instructors such as Kataoka Sensei, Maruyama Sensei and Will Reed Sensei. Of particular interest have been the ki healing arts and she continues to use these principles in her massage and body work practice. She started teaching kids class assisting Williams Sensei then took over the primary role teaching kids classes when he left for Fiji in 2006. She is a senior instructor in Byron and her love is teaching kids, sharing the magic of aikido, watching them grow, evolve and become more confident and grounded in any of their pursuits.

In 2015 she was presented with a 5th Dan from Michael Williams Sensei, Founder Aikido Goshinkai and continues along the path of aikido, a path of peace.

02 6685 9787
0409 604650
jomart811@yahoo.com.au

Lawrence Taylor Ellyard

Lawrence started his Aikido training in 1994 with Aiki Kai Australia. In 2009 he moved to Byron Bay and undertook training with Michael Williams Sensei and has continued to train to the present day. In 2015 he was awarded 3rd Dan by Michael Williams Sensei, Founder of Aikido Goshinkai. Lawrence has studied Aikido in Japan at Hombu dojo and was a live in student ‘Uchi-deshi’ at New York Aiki Kai, training under Yoshimitsu Yamada Sensei. Lawrence has a deep interest in exploring the commonalities in a variety of Aikido styles and currently trains in Byron Bay, teaching weekly Aiki Kids classes at Byron Goshinkai Dojo, and is the Instructor at Bangalow Dojo.