Instructors

Sensei Henry Lynch

Henry Lynch started his Aikido journey over 50 years ago and has been helping people learn Aikido for over 30 years. He has also studied Judo, Kendo and Shrinjo-kempo. Henry sensei is the Chief Instructor and Head of the Riai Aikido Association with its seven schools throughout New Zealand and one in Australia. Henry sensei founded Riai Aikido Dojo in Wellington, NZ in 1993. He is currently based in Auckland, NZ where he also founded the Riai Aikido Learning Centre.

A life member of Riai Aikido Association, Henry sensei is one of only two people to ever be given this honour. Henry sensei was acknowledged by the Martial Arts community for his contribution and dedication to Martial Arts and Aikido by being inducted into the New Zealand Martial Arts Hall of Fame in November 2009.

Henry’s sensei is Robert Nadeau shihan (8th Dan) who studied with Aikido’s founder Morihei Ueshiba. Nadeau shihan regularly travels to New Zealand to conduct seminars and workshops.

Henry sensei regularly conducts seminars and workshops where he focuses on the “communication system” between uke and nage. His workshops are known for the visual tools he employs to explain the concepts of aikido. For example he famously uses bunny ears to demonstrate the principle “where the head goes the body must follow” – an explicit visual example of Aikido’s basic self-defence technique of Ikkyo.

Henry sensei is the Chief Instructor at the Riai Aikido Learning Centre in Auckland City in New Zealand and is also a Director of the New Zealand Martial Arts Institute.

In 2012 Henry sensei was inducted into the Australasian Martial Arts Hall of Fame.

Henry Lynch

Current grade

6th Dan - Aikikai

Dojo

Riai Aikido Learning Centre

Experience

Training since 1975

Other Riai Aikido Instructors

Danny McIntyre

Sensei Danny McIntyre

5th Dan - Aikikai

Riai Aikido Learning Centre

Conrad Edwards

Sensei Conrad Edwards

3rd Dan - Aikikai

Riai Aikido Wellington City Dojo

Daryl Murray

Sensei Daryl Murray

3rd Dan - Aikikai

Riai Aikido Learning Centre

Sensei Victor Sugijarta

Sensei Victor Sugijarta

3rd Dan - Aikikai

Riai Aikido Wellington City Dojo

Sensei Jennifer Senior

2nd Dan - Aikikai

Riai Aikido Learning Centre

Sensei Eric Bechet

Sensei Eric Béchet

2nd Dan - Aikikai

Riai Aikido Learning Centre

Sensei Liam Venter

Sensei Liam Venter

2nd Dan - Aikikai

Riai Aikido West Auckland

Sensei Dan Furkert

1st Dan - Aikikai

Riai Aikido Learning Centre

Sensei Min Chen

1st Dan - Aikikai

Riai Aikido Learning Centre

Sensei Mark Sleeman

Sensei Mark Sleeman

1st Dan - Aikikai

Riai Aikido Learning Centre