John Waite first started Martial arts in September 1951 when, after he had completed his National Service in the army he and his Brother enrolled at the South London Judo Society. This dojo was located in Kennington, South London, hence the name. Later the name was shortened to the London Judo Society (LJS).

He spent many happy years there receiving some of the best tuition available from several of the home grown teachers and later by Kensiro Abbe and in 1959 Senta Yamada.

After obtaining his Judo 1st Dan in 1954, John was invited to become the first instructor at the club to teach a junior class and later to teach the senior members of the club. As the years progressed he moved through the grades until in the mid 1980s when he received his Judo 5th Dan. 

It was in 1959 that Yamada Sensei came to the LJS to take up the position of resident teacher for Judo and later Aikido. It was shortly after his arrival that John was approached by Eric Domini, one of the co-owners of the club, and asked if he would care to assist Yamada Sensei in the forthcoming annual LJS exhibition at the Royal Albert Hall. 

This was the first demonstration of Tomiki Aikido ever seen in England and from that time on John became Yamada Sensei’s senior student and friend.

It was in the early 60s, when Yamada Sensei opened his own dojo in North London that the Kikusui Kai was born. John and several of his students moved with him.  From then until 1965 they were able to continue their Judo and Aikido studies under his careful tuition.

When Yamada sensei decided to return to Japan in 1965 the running of the dojo was left to three of his senior students Peter Martin, Cliff Baker-Brown and John Waite. Peter and Cliff took charge of the Judo and John, because of his commitments in other dojo's, was given the responsibility for the Aikido teaching. Unfortunately, due to economic pressures they had to close the dojo but still continued to teach in various other venues.

From 1951 through to today John has continued to practice and teach both Judo and Aikido.

Over the years John has held various teaching and coaching post in both activities.

British Judo Association Area Coach for the whole of the South of England, which included Surrey, Sussex, Kent, Hampshire and the Channel islands.

British Aikido Association National Coach for Aikido.

Tutor for both Judo and Aikido for the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA), from 1973 until it disbandment in 1986.

During this time John also managed to attend a branch of the London University to become a qualified teacher in Craft Design Technology from 1969-72.

Over the years he has travelled to many countries around the world teaching Aikido and Judo. In October 2002 John moved to New Zealand and is continuing teaching and spreading the word of Aikido and Judo and all its benefits and through these activities the spirit and true meaning of the Kikusui Kai.

In 2006 John was granted Shihan status by the Japan Aikido Association - Shidokan Division (A Honbu Dojo for Tomiki Aikido).  In 2010 John was awarded his 8th Dan by the Japan Aikido Association.

John Waite Shihan

8th Dan Aikido (JAA), 7th Dan Aikido (BAA)

5th Dan Judo (BJA) (NZJF)

Senior Teacher of Kikusui Kai
(click on picture for an early video clip)