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.
