Shinkondo Dojo History
Griffith University
Shinkondo Dojo was established in 2005 by Michael Stoopman Sensei, Phillip Kohn Sensei and their senior students. Together Michael and Phillip had run the Griffith University Aikido Club for many years. Micheal Stoopman had taken over the running of that dojo in the late 1980s after Michael Williams, who founded the dojo, moved to Byron Bay. Phillip started training with Stoopman Sensei in 1988 and by the late 1990s was a seasoned instructor and conducted much of the administration of the dojo.
Nyanda State High School
The new dojo was initially without a home and temporarily operated out of Clear View Dojo, run by Andrian Xavier Sensei, which at that time ran classes out of a scout hall in the suburb of Seven Hills. A home was found at Nyanda State High School in the suburb of Salisbury where the dojo operated for two years. Running classes out of a school hall that was constantly being double booked for school events proved challenging and in 2007 the decision was made to look for new premises.
Kurilpa Scout Hall - Yeronga
Shinkondo Dojo was once again homeless, but was again graciously hosted by Clear View Dojo. In 2007 a new home was found at the Kurilpa Scout Hall in Yeronga, where the dojo has operated ever since. Located on at 176 Villa Street Yeronga, on the corner of Villa Street and Park Road, the hall is a historic building. It is more properly known as the Baden Powell Memorial Hall.
Michael Stoopman Sensei (8th Dan)
Michael Stoopman no longer teaches. In recent years his health has suffered and he is no longer able to train. Stoopman Sensei has had a hand in the teaching of many Aikidoka in the Brisbane area and his presence on the mat is very much missed.
Michael started learning Aikido in 1966 along with Judo. During the course of studying Aikido, for a short time, he took classes in Karate & Jujitsu to better understand how these arts interact with Aikido techniques. In 1985, he changed Aikido styles when the Ki Society became established in Australia. He studied and taught Ki Aikido from that time on.
Stoopman sensei's main teaching focus was the learning of happiness by understanding ourselves, our environment and how our mind and body interact. Stoopman sensei's studies in Ontology (science of being) & Cosmology (nature of the universe) helped him articulate his understanding of Ki and how it relates to the philosophy of Aikido.
Phillip Kohn Sensei (7th Dan)
Kohn Sensei undertook much of the administration at Shinkondo Dojo and was a senior instructor for many years. Sensei Kohn retired from training in 2017 and has since moved interstate and we wish him all the very best. Sensei Kohn brought a calm and incredibly capable presence to training and is very much missed.
Phillip Kohn Sensei began practicing Aikido in 1988, almost exclusively at Shinkondo Dojo. He thought it was interesting to try a martial art that claims to use an opponent's speed and strength against them. He tried it and found it teaches that and so much more.