The Shudokan Dojo's HISTORY
THAMBY RAJAH SENSEI
The Father of Malaysian Aikido
1926-2022
Thamby Rajah Sensei, also known as S. Thamby Rajah, was a prominent Aikido instructor and one of the pioneers of Aikido in Malaysia. He was born on June 10, 1926, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Thamby Rajah Sensei began his martial arts training in 1940, studying judo and karate. In the late 1950s, he moved to Japan to learn the art of Judo. He had already trained in gymnastics and had some Ju-Jitsu background.
Thamby Rajah Sensei trained for a year at the Kodokan under world-renowned teachers such as Haruyoshi Ichijima and Kyuzo Mifune, becoming the first Malaysian to attain the rank of Shodan in Judo. During his time in Japan, Thamby Rajah chanced upon some senior Judo students practicing unfamiliar techniques. Upon asking where they learned such techniques, they revealed they were studying Aikido under Shioda of the Yoshinkan.
Before his year at the Kodokan was up, Thamby Rajah Sensei visited the Yoshinkan himself and decided he would soon return to study this art. In the late 1950s, Thamby Rajah Sensei returned to Japan and under Shioda’s tutelage, he attained Shodan in Yoshinkan Aikido. He then returned to Malaysia as the first Malaysian with a Shodan in both Aikido and Judo.
He set up his first school under the name of Shudokan, a name given to him by Shioda. The Shudokan Dojo is the first Aikido dojo in Malaysia and one of the first Yoshinkan Dojos outside of Japan. Thamby Rajah Sensei also founded the Malaysian Aikido Association in 1963, which helped to promote the art of Aikido throughout Malaysia and other parts of Southeast Asia.
Thamby Rajah Sensei was known for his dedication to Aikido and his deep understanding of the art. He emphasized the importance of proper technique and precise movements, and he encouraged his students to develop a strong mind-body connection through their training.
In addition to his work with the Malaysian Aikido Association, Thamby Rajah Sensei was also involved in promoting Aikido on an international level. He traveled to other countries to teach seminars and workshops, and he played a key role in the establishment of the International Aikido Federation in 1976.
Thamby Rajah Sensei continued to teach Aikido until his death on December 10, 2022, at the age of 96. He is remembered as a respected and influential figure in the world of Aikido, and his teachings continue to inspire students and instructors around the world.
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