Conrad was the first member of Riai Aikido Wellington when Henry Lynch sensei (6th dan) started it in 1993. He has trained in Wellington ever since under Henry sensei, Danny sensei and other Riai yudansha.
Conrad has also trained extensively with Robert Nadeau shihan (8th dan) in San Francisco. He has enjoyed a number of California Aikido summer retreat camps where Shihan Nadeau is one of the main teachers and studied with Shihan Nadeau during his visits to New Zealand.
Conrad is a Sandan (3rd degree black belt) and dojo cho of Riai Aikido Wellington City. He loves everything about aikido, but especially the ‘neuroscience’ of aikido. That is, how to take an attacker’s centre without engaging your muscles, or theirs – to operate below the radar of their consciousness. Conrad is a Feldenkrais Method practitioner (which has huge affinities with aikido) and an experienced expedition sea kayaker (only moderate affinities with aikido!).
The Californian Aikido Association spot-light series has an article on Conrad, including the only known use of aikido in Antarctica.
