Autobiography - 9 | Introduction to Aikido

Q: You talked about your competition time in the last clip. Can you elaborate further?

A: Yes, I would love to. This was a period where I was involved in competition refereeing and also served as a national coach. During this time, I was introduced to a good friend, who is still a close friend of mine in Malaysia. He became a multi-millionaire, and his involvement in martial arts contributed to his success. He was an Aikido practitioner named Mr. Venu, also known by his academic titles, Doctor and Professor.

I still maintain contact with him, speaking on the phone once or twice a week. We met during a coffee break at a hospital. I was introduced to him as a karateka, and at that young age, I was quite eager to show off my karate skills. He suggested that I visit the dojo of his Sensei, Tambi Raja Sensei.

I immediately recognized the name Tambi Raja Sensei. When I was a schoolboy of seven, he was a school clerk at St. Paul's School, where I studied. He was also known for his skills in gymnastics and Judo. He was a martial arts master. I remember him walking to his home, about one or two kilometers, always well-dressed in long sleeves and a necktie. He was a true gentleman. Everyone would talk about him as he walked by.

When my friend mentioned Tambi Raja Sensei, I readily agreed to visit. We made an appointment, and I went to observe a training session. He introduced me to his Sensei, and I was very happy to meet him. Tambi Raja Sensei invited me to train.

He was very famous in Malaysia, being the first Asian to bring martial arts to Southeast Asia. He went to Japan in the early 1950s and trained Judo at the Kodokan, the headquarters of Judo, under masters like Mune Sensei, a 10th Dan Judoka. Mune Sensei was known as the finest of the finest. You can find videos of him online, showing a small, old man throwing young Judo champions. Tambi Raja Sensei also met Donn Draeger Sensei at the Kodokan.

He had trained Judo before going to Japan. Later, after returning, he taught Judo. He also trained Karate, achieving the rank of brown belt under Nakayama Sensei, studying Shotokan Karate. At the time, there was little to no Karate in Malaysia or Southeast Asia. He was a pioneer. After training Karate and Judo, he discovered Aikido and met the founder of Aikido, Ueshiba Sensei.

Tambi Raja Sensei used to share these stories with me. He eventually found his teacher, Godo Sensei, and began learning Yoshinkan Aikido. Upon his return, he taught Aikido and established his dojo, Shudokan, a name he received from his Judo Sensei. While his Aikido system was rooted in Yoshinkan Aikido, his teaching style was more direct, focusing on practical application rather than elaborate movements.

Q: So it was more of a self-defense oriented Aikido?

A: Yes. I remember my first training session. I was holding the Katana, and he grabbed me, executing a single movement that resulted in a Sankyo lock. I was impressed by the efficiency of the movement and decided to join Aikido. I joined Aikido through my friend, Mr. Venu. I will always remember and praise him for introducing me to Aikido and to my master, Tambi Raja Sensei. I still teach his method of Aikido, which is very effective for self-defense.

While foundational Yoshinkan Aikido is important for beginners, Tambi Raja Sensei's movements were direct because he was trained in techniques used by police and railway police for arresting and self-defense. Shimizu Takaji Sensei of Jodo and Donn Draeger Sensei also taught self-defense to the police. Tambi Raja Sensei's approach was like a short, three-month course focused on self-defense.

Some people misunderstand his teaching, thinking it deviates from Yoshinkan Aikido. However, he was a qualified teacher trained by Shioda Sensei, but his teachings were direct and focused on self-defense. His Aikido was tailored for practical application.

I trained Aikido under him until I moved to Germany in the 1980s, and I continue to teach his version of Aikido, which I find very effective.

Q: This is quite interesting for modern students.

A: Yes, those who train Aikido or have heard of Shudokan Aikido should understand its history. This is just the beginning of the story of Tambi Raja Sensei and how I started Aikido. I hope this explanation is helpful. I can continue the story in the next episode. You're most welcome. Bye.