Tenshinkan Crosby
The Tenshinkan Aikido Dojo was founded by the late Eric George Sensei on his return from Japan where he had lived and studied. Eric George was also a senior Judo coach and player and with his contacts within the British Judo Council he became head of the Aikido section within the BJC.
Eric was soon joined by Alan Keithley Sensei who had been a student of the Great Kazou Chiba Sensei who had been sent to England by O Sensei. Alan Keithley Sensei received his Shodan from Chiba Sensei who became a famous Aikidoka in the UK, America and all over the world.
In the late 1980’s Eric George Sensei decided to return to Japan and in doing so asked Les Baker Sensei to take over the Tenshinkan Dojo. During this period the Tenshinkan came under the guidance of Mr William Smith Sensei 6th dan M.B.E. and principle of the United Kingdom Aikikai. Mr Smith promoted Keithley Sensei to Nidan with the direct blessing of Chiba Sensei but sadly Alan passed away suddenly before just before he was to receive it.
In 1996 Mr Smith Shihan and Gordon Jones Shihan promoted Les Baker to Nidan at summer course held in Southport.
After several years of inaction the Tenshinkan Aikido dojo reopened and registered with the Aikido Research Federation as a member of the British Aikido Board.
In January 2013 we founded the Merseyside Aikido Fellowship, who at its core followed principles that were laid down by O Sensei and the teachers of Les Baker Sensei.
In 2017 the Merseyside Aikido Fellowship merged with other dojos to create the North West Aikikai.
The school is currently affiliated to the British Aikido Board (BAB) and continues to promote friendship and harmony through the study of Aikido.
Sensei Baker is currently 5th Dan Aikido (BAB) and 4th Dan Aikido (so Hombu) and also holds a 5th dan in Ju Jutsu under the instruction of Raymond Bates Sensei 6th dan and studied Iaido and Iai-jutsu of the Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū with the Wigan Bujutsu Kai, Wayne Parkinson Sensei and Renshi John Lovett. Today the Tenshinkan has the added benefit of holding regular lessons in Iaido from Eddie Kwasnaki Sensei, studying ‘Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu’ Iaido.
The principle of the Tenshinkan is to bring deep study of the self through practice of the classical forms of Budo and through this process bring a balance and harmony to life.
