Dojo Now Open
Aikido Monday 6.30pm to 8.00pm – Combined basic and general class Wednesday 7.00pm to 8.30pm – General class .. [read more]
June 16, 2020
Ready to begin your Aikido journey today ? 0414 614 169
Aikido Monday 6.30pm to 8.00pm – Combined basic and general class Wednesday 7.00pm to 8.30pm – General class .. [read more]
June 16, 2020
Recently I have put a hanging on the wall at Shin Sen Dojo. It is of a Dragon. The Dragon is seen as the guardian spirit of Aikido.. [read more]
January 22, 2020
As most people know, aikido is the lifelong study of physical and spiritual enlightenment, in order to reach inner peace. Over the.. [read more]
December 25, 2019
It develops your Ki (Chi) Shiatsu is the art of moving people’s energy through touch. It uses the pressure points that run along.. [read more]
November 24, 2019
Spring is upon us with its wonderful weather and energy. In the cyclic seasonal understanding, spring embodies the energy of tree .. [read more]
September 29, 2019
What is the connection between aikido and mental health? When many of us think of martial arts, we see it as an after-school activ.. [read more]
August 25, 2019
There is far more to aikido than learning self-defence techniques. This peaceful Japanese martial art can also teach you many valu.. [read more]
July 25, 2019
What is aikido? Developed in the 1920s, by Professor Morihei Ueshiba (aka O Sensei), aikido is a modern, non-violent Japanese mart.. [read more]
June 25, 2019
Setting your kids up for life Martial arts, specifically aikido, is a rite of passage for kids. So much more than self-defence tra.. [read more]
May 25, 2019
Martial arts, such as aikido and karate, are more popular than ever. Sadly, though, there is no shortage of misconceptions surroun.. [read more]
April 25, 2019
Aikido is much more than an efficient self-defence method. The Japanese martial art signifies a path to understanding, is a way of.. [read more]
April 8, 2019
There is much more to aikido than learning combat techniques. Aikido is a path to self-development. This development integrates yo.. [read more]
January 21, 2019
I was listening to the radio recently and they were discussing research about happiness. All the research was indicating the impor.. [read more]
December 7, 2018
Recently I was sitting in one of the huts in Bronte Beach where a few of the local community gather, when a woman joined us. I gra.. [read more]
October 23, 2018
Written by Ken McLean Recently in the Dojo we have been practicing and discussing the Aiki and Macrobiotic principle of Kaiten. Li.. [read more]
August 8, 2018
Winter is upon us with its challenges – Life can be very challenging at times. An ancient saying “In winter hold fast to the p.. [read more]
July 19, 2018
We have just recently experienced Easter which is a nice break for most. In the Christian tradition it is the acknowledgement of t.. [read more]
April 16, 2018
Kanten is an ideal way to have fruit. Its a cooling dessert perfect for our hot summers in Australia – it is refreshing and .. [read more]
February 8, 2018
The great thing about Macrobiotics is it unifies and integrates all existing dietary theories out there. I meet many people who ar.. [read more]
February 5, 2018
In oriental understanding we are moving into the year of the Earth Dog. Some of the qualities relating to this are loyalty, commit.. [read more]
January 30, 2018
Macrobiotics meaning big or great life is also considered the universal way of health and happiness. Its use can be traced back to.. [read more]
December 19, 2017
Jin – benevolence, compassion, love, humanity, charity, spiritual person, look after your opponent, protecting others Mei Yo –.. [read more]
December 16, 2017
Am I living my biggest life? Is life a joyous adventure with an ever-expanding circle of intimate friends, full of vitality and hu.. [read more]
December 14, 2017
Life has its rhythm, its pace. When we fall behind it can seem too much – overwhelming. When we go ahead – we feel lack of sup.. [read more]
December 12, 2017
Greetings and I hope this finds you enjoying life with its many changes and challenges. Well Christmas is nearly upon us and for m.. [read more]
December 4, 2017
Usually training takes place in a Dojo. Dojo is a Japanese word that means place of the way or place where we practice the deeper .. [read more]
December 1, 2017
Aikido has usually been described as being founded by Morihei Uyeshiba in the late 1930’s in Japan. However, Aiki goes back, lik.. [read more]
November 27, 2017
As we enter more deeply into the 21st Century, life continues to change at an ever increasing pace. Technological, economic and li.. [read more]
November 23, 2017
As the Earth and human society cycles toward inevitable change, the need for the power of the feminine to ascend to its rightful p.. [read more]
November 7, 2017
It is amazing how doing regular Aikido stimulates the brain. All the movements and the countless variations works on the neuro pat.. [read more]
August 8, 2017
Am I living my biggest life? Is life a joyous adventure with an ever-expanding circle of intimate friends, full of vitality and hu.. [read more]
February 17, 2017
There is nothing like home made Gomashio to add to your soups or rice or salads. Ingredients: sesame seeds, sea salt Dry roast sea.. [read more]
January 26, 2017
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all. Shin Sen Dojo’s last Aikido class for 2015 is Monday 21st December, recommencing Satu.. [read more]
December 20, 2016
Experience sound harmonisation for spiritual and physical clarity of mind and awakening your deep vitality. 6th August at our Kens.. [read more]
August 7, 2016
Musubi is a principle that expresses many qualities. Musubi in food means rice ball. However its true meaning is the balance of we.. [read more]
July 19, 2016
What is Budo? Budo generally translated to mean martial arts but that is not quite correct. The Japanese character in the written .. [read more]
June 5, 2016
Zanshin is a Japanese word which means positive completion and follow through. An action that is done with unity of body and mind .. [read more]
May 24, 2016
To attract something we desire externally, we must first set up the conditions in our mind emotion/body – that we are already ex.. [read more]
April 30, 2016
The willow known for its pliability and suppleness was a model for an ancient school of Ju Jitsu. The founder of the school was wa.. [read more]
March 6, 2016
We often describe the Ki Training at Shin Sen Dojo as Brown Rice Tai Chi or Brown Rice Chi Kung. Chi Kung is the Chinese words for.. [read more]
February 23, 2016
Shiatsu – a wonderful way to experience harmony and wellbeing. Beyond massage, Shiatsu is a medical way of restoring health and .. [read more]
January 27, 2016
Life has its rhythm, its pace. When we fall behind it can seem too much – overwhelming. When we go ahead – we feel lack of sup.. [read more]
October 1, 2015
Experience sound harmonisation for spiritual and physical clarity of mind and awakening your deep vitality. 6th August at our Kens.. [read more]
August 4, 2015
By Ken McLean Sensei Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year in winter where the seasonal energy goes deepest in the earth.. [read more]
June 21, 2015
By Peter Hons, Shin Sen Dojo Tamworth. As the Shin Sen Dojo Winter Intensive comes to a close in Sydney, it’s a time to refl.. [read more]
June 15, 2015
2 May 2015 To Shin Sen members and friends Autumn is well underway with its sometimes-beautiful and often wild weather. The Dojo c.. [read more]
May 2, 2015
When we are feeling not so good, perhaps sluggish, maybe emotionally flat or the flow in our life is not happening, we do have a c.. [read more]
January 19, 2015
12th January 2015 To Shin Sen members and friends I hope this finds you well as we move into 2015 and towards the Chinese New Year.. [read more]
January 12, 2015
Greetings to Shin Sen Friends and Family As we move into the festive season I would like personally to extend my best wishes for a.. [read more]
December 1, 2014
6th November 2014 In Macrobiotic Aiki understanding everything happens for a reason. How to receive is the question or the challen.. [read more]
November 6, 2014
September 2014 The ancient understanding in martial arts of Go Ju Ryu Ki has many varied applications to training. Literally trans.. [read more]
September 9, 2014
1st September 2014 Greetings and hope this newsletter finds you traveling your heaven’s sent path with joy and inspiration. Anot.. [read more]
September 1, 2014
3 July 2014 Greetings, The Winter Aiki Intensive has passed and with it a number of people successfully met the challenge of that .. [read more]
July 3, 2014
28 May 2014 Life is a wave motion; the day begins with the sun rise and peaks at midday before it begins its descent to sunset. Wh.. [read more]
May 28, 2014
24 April 2014 Greetings. I hope this e-mail finds you in positive spirits. All the trainings of Shin Sen are about supporting the .. [read more]
April 24, 2014
Greetings. I hope this email finds you in great health and moving towards the realization of all your goals. For this is the main .. [read more]
April 13, 2014
5th February 2014 So the Chinese new year is now upon us and the Horse is out of the stable so to speak. The adventure of harnessi.. [read more]
February 5, 2014
30 January 2014 Greetings, I would like to extend positive and warm wishes to all members and friends of Shin Sen as we come into .. [read more]
January 30, 2014
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Ken McLean & his Journey
Sensei Ken McLean has trained in martial arts for over 50 years with the last 40 focusing on Aikido, Ki Energy Cultivation and Aiki Healing Arts.
Father’s Influence
Ken’s father, was an Australian Professional Boxing Champion in 1940s-1950s (the Golden Era of Australian Boxing). From age 6, Ken accompanied his father to coaching sessions. Ken began to understand his approach: to absorb one’s opponents’ strength and energy while riding the motion of one’s partners’ attack, moving the body as one from the legs, hips and waist. After researching and training in Aiki arts, Ken realised how profound his father’s understanding and principles really were.
Judo & Aiki Jujutsu
In Ken’s early teens he trained in Judo and Aiki Jujutsu. At the age of 12, he received his first book on Aikido and Ki from a school friend, inspiring him to look more deeply into this training way. Training daily in Judo and Aiki Jujutsu, he discovered the principle of using one’s partner’s balance, winning the local judo championship.
Forest Life
At 15, disillusioned with his life and competitive sport, Ken left school and, with friends, built a shack in the forest of the Northern NSW to seek a deeper connection with nature. They studied natural living, diet and yoga. It was here they were introduced to Macrobiotics by coming across a copy of George Oshawa’s “We are All Sanpaku” on the local tip. They immediately embraced the principles. Ken lived with his friends in the forest for over 3 years and it was at this time he developed his life-long love of great Nature (Shizen).
East West Foundation
Returning to Sydney he moved into the East West study house where he trained and studied full-time Oki-Yoga, Oriental medicine, macrobiotics, acupuncture and shiatsu. Common to these practices was the understanding of Ki (life energy).
Seichi Sugarno
As chance would have it, up the road from the study house was an Aikido dojo run by Seichi Sugarno. Seichi Sugarno was an original apprentice to the modern father of Aikido, “O’Sensei”, Morihei Uyeshiba. Inspired by Aikido, Ken trained 6-8 hours daily in Ki and Aikido. After 3-4 years, Sugarno left Australia. Ken explored other streams of Aikido while he continued his teaching of Oki Yoga, Shiatsu and Macrobiotics.
Melbourne East West Center
Ken moved to Melbourne for a year where he founded the Melbourne East West Center.
Koichi Tohei & Japan
As Ken’s own understanding of Ki deepened and developed, he began to observe that many streams of Aikido had become rough and unrefined – Ki was disappearing from the training. This inspired Ken to travel to Koichi Tohei’s dojo in Japan in 1980 and 1981 to explore his approach to Ki Aikido.
Koichi Tohei had split from the Aikikai (main organisation of Aikido) in the 70s feeling he had no room to explore Ki. There was a major division in the Aikido world. Both streams – Tohei and Aiki-kai – seemed to over-accentuate their differences. The Aiki-Kai de-emphasising Ki, whilst Tohei removed many of the Aikido movements.
Unifying Aiki
The middle ground that unified the two approaches was disappearing. Ken began to work on a unifying approach to Aiki, (Aiki means “unification, to blend with every situation”). He found that many Aikido styles had become set, unable to blend with the other’s approach. Ken began to concentrate his efforts on an approach that was holistic, expressing the essence of what Aiki means.
Angel House Dojo
On returning from Japan, Ken began training in parks. Quickly, he attracted many people wanting to train with him, including Blackbelts from other disciplines, looking for something deeper in their practice. This is when he opened the Dojo in Angel House in the city in 1980.
Seigo Yamaguchi, George Ohsawa & O’Sensei
Returning to Japan, he had a brief training with Seigo Yamaguchi whose work he knew of through the Macrobiotic movement.
Yamaguchi had been a student of George Ohsawa who had taken Macrobiotics to the west. After George Ohsawa had met O’Sensei (Morihei Uyeshiba) he sent Seigo Yamaguchi to train with O’Sensei. George Ohsawa and O’Sensei had become firm friends and saw in each other kindred spirits. Whilst O’Sensei developed Aikido in the form of physical moving training, George Ohsawa researched and taught what he called the Unifying Principle which underlied all the traditional Do (tao) of Japanese Arts.
Yamaguchi eventually became one of the main teachers in the Aiki-Kai Dojo and was known for his relaxed, supple, flowing and spontaneous approach to Aikido. Ken found due to a similar background in Macrobiotics, he could easily identify with Yamaguchi’s approach.
Ken began to integrate all of these approaches to Ki and Aiki over time to get to the original essence of training.
In the early to mid-1980s, he hosted the Sydney visits of Yamaguchi’s students including, Yoshinobu Takeda, now a famous world teacher of Aikido. Whilst opening up his Dojo to these teachers Ken could never quite join their organisation for his commitment was to the more holistic and original stream of Shin Sen.
Alfred Kaufmann
It was during these times – early 1980’s – that he met an old western Sennin – Alfred Kaufmann. Sennin means ‘free person’ or ‘awakened being’ (think Yoda in Star Wars); someone who has reached a freedom and level of mastery in their expression.
Although Alfred had never heard of Macrobiotics, he had lived an incredibly “big life” developing some special abilities.
At the time of meeting, Ken had just finished a Ki-Shiatsu treatment and he came through the front door and sat on a chair saying “I am here to guide you.” Ken thought to himself, “Who is this person?”. As Alfred talked, Ken found himself rooted to the chair, the room developed a certain golden ambience and Ken could see that Alfred was much more than he had seemed initially.
Alfred spoke of his experience in his meditation where he had come across O’Sensei and that Aiki was the new way for human beings. Alfred had been many things in life, including a University Professor, a world lecturer on the Dead Sea Scrolls, he had been the Founder of Osteopathy in Australia and the Director of the Natural Therapy College, a Priest and the list goes on. He was grounded in reality and had very special qualities and was liked by all.
Ken opened up the Dojo and his students to Alfred’s influence. Ken and his wife (Tricia) cooked for him and helped look after him to prolong his stay in this world. Ken could share many stories about Alfred Kaufmann, however suffice to say Alfred had an understanding of Aiki on the mental and spiritual level that exceeded all other Aikido teachers Ken had trained with.
In the 1990’s the Dojo moved to Bondi Junction and Paddington. During those years many interesting people came to train in the Dojo.
Blue Mountains
In 1995 Tricia and Ken moved to the Blue Mountains with their family of seven children. Ken developed Aiki while exploring Shizen (Deep Nature) and meditation under the many waterfalls in the area. At that time he also established Shin Sen Dojo Katoomba.
Michio Hikitsuchi
In 1996 Tricia and Ken were fortunate to travel to the Dojo of 10th Dan Aikido Master and Zen and Shinto Priest, Michio Hikitsuchi. His Dojo was in the beautiful and spiritual Kumano area of Japan where the mountains meet the ocean. There are many great waterfalls to do Misogi (purification) under!
They lived in his Dojo for two weeks training twice daily and doing misogi. During the day Ken also treated Michio Hikitsuchi with the Shiatsu system he had founded called Ki-Shiatsu. Michio Hikitzuchi had cancer at the time. He received Ken’s treatment very positively and commenting that it was the highest treatment he had received. On leaving, Michio Hikitsuchi presented Ken with some special calligraphy which is displayed in the Dojo today.
Michio and Aveline Kushi
In the early 90s Ken and Tricia brought Michio and Aveline Kushi to Australia on two trips to teach Macrobiotics. They were well received by all. At the time Ken was the President of Macrobiotics Australia as well as running the Dojo. Michio lectured at Sydney University and Aveline taught macro cooking classes. They enjoyed getting to know each other. Michio and Aveline acknowledged Ken and Tricia’s approach to Macrobiotics. Michio asked Ken to be President of his organisation in Australia, One Peaceful World, which he did for a short while. He then handed that over to someone else so he could focus on the Dojo. Michio had a deep comprehension of the ancient way of Shin Sen and felt Macrobiotics had come out of that understanding
Tom Crum
Ken trained with and supported Tom Crum of Aiki Works, author of the Magic of Conflict, great friend of John Denver and co-founder of Winstar Foundation. Ken assisted Tom in his Seminars on conflict resolution the Aiki way. Tom has developed a wonderful way of taking Aikido principles and relating them to every day interaction as well as within the corporate and business world. This is the wonderful thing about Aikido –its principles are effective in everyday life.
Koichi Barrish
In the early 90s a group from Shin Sen had a “meeting of minds” with American Aikidoists in Maui, Hawaii. This was led by Aikido teacher and Shinto Priest, Koichi Barrish. He has a very deep comprehension of the spiritual dimension of Aiki as expressed through Ancient Shinto and its application to the modern world. His beautiful and clear calligraphy are on the walls of Shin Sen Dojo. If visiting the USA, visit Koichi Barrish Dojo Shrine in Washington State.
Tricia McLean
In the late 90’s Ken’s wife and mother of seven children passed on. She was a wonderful human being. A great wife and mother, tremendous Macrobiotic Cook and teacher, masterful Aikidoist with the most wonderful forward rolls. At only 5 feet tall, she could easily throw large men around the mat.
Kensington
In the last 18 years Shin Sen Dojo has been settled in the beautiful tatami Dojo at Kensington in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. Many new people come to train in the various programmes as well as experienced senior practitioners. Regular visits from senior practitioners and other Aikidoists from the Blue Mountain Dojo such as Darell Shields and Bill Harvey.
There are many more names that could be mentioned and will be added to the story of Shin Sen as the dojo continues to unfold. It has been wonderful to have so many people of all ages and backgrounds interact with a spirit of positivity and harmony in the last 38 years.
Other Shin Sen Dojos
Many people who have trained at Shin Sen Dojo have gone on to found their own Dojos. This includes Peter Hons of Shin Sen Dojo Tamworth in Northern NSW (https://www.shinsendojotamworth.com). Also Geoff Ritchie established Shin Sen Dojo in Levin, New Zealand (https://www.shinsendojo.nz). Jamie Terley of Sydney Aikido Dojo in Artarmon Sydney (https://www.sydneyaikidodojo.com).
They have all trained for many years in the various arts of Shin Sen and are actively influencing and teaching others in the deeper principles of Aiki on the mat and in daily life.
Recently Mike Hanrahan has started Aikido of Shin Sen in the far South Coast of NSW at Tilba. The Blue Mountains Dojo at Katoomba is led by Darrell Shields and Bill Harvey.