Andy Hobday Sensei

2nd Dan Aikido

Andy Sensei is a full time student of Aikido and has been teaching since 2001.

He began studying Aikido in 1998 under Sensei Ken Robson (7th Dan, Shudokan Institute of Aikido International). He was tested to the rank of Shodan (1st dan, SIAI) in 2001 and Nidan (2nd dan, SIAI) in 2004 by this organisation.

In November 2004 Andy Sensei left Robson Sensei’s organisation to study and train in Yoshinkan Aikido and to this end founded the Shoshinkan at the beginning of 2005.

In May 2006 and every year since he has travelled to Australia to undertake focused training as dojo-sei (live in student) with Joe Thambu Shihan (7th dan Yoshinkan) at the Shudokan dojo in Melbourne. In March 2008, following two years of training in Yoshinkan Aikido under Thambu Shihan, Hobday Sensei was tested to Nidan (2nd dan Yoshinkan).

Andy Sensei has made a significant personal commitment to the Yoshinkan style of Aikido by giving up his career as an IT Project Manager to focus on training and teaching full time. Andy Sensei supports his Aikido through his own web development business, which allows the Shoshinkan to remain non profit making.

Regularly attending seminars both in the UK and abroad, Andy Sensei has received tuition from many prominent Yoshinkan Aikido instructors.

These include Kiyoyuki Terada Saikokomon co-founder of the Yoshinkan, Kyoichi Inoue Hanshi former Yoshinkan Kancho, Tsutomu Chida Shihan of the Renshinkai, Tsuneo Ando Shihan of Yoshinkan Aikido Ryu, Robert Mustard Sensei of Yoshinkai Burnaby, Jacques Payet Shihan and Thamby Rajah Sensei, the father of Malaysian Aikido.

Andy Sensei’s primary focus is Aikido training, spreading Aikido in Nottingham and also to achieve accreditation for all Shoshinkan black belts from Japan.  

He is passionate about ensuring that his dojo is a positive, rewarding and enjoyable experience for everyone who visits and trains there.

“Sensei Andy has shown me that Aikido is not only a physical exercise for everyone who likes a challenge, but it is also a way of living. He has a great ability to transmit his passion in a very humble way to his students; he is caring and very patient with everyone.” Delphine Loliero [Shoshinkan Student]

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