Instructor Profile

Jim Dawes Sensei first began aikido in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, January of 1992. He trained for 6 months at the St.Clair College, Renbukan Dojo (Sensei James Jeannette, 7th Dan).


Unfortunately, his family moved out of the City and temporarily put his training on hiatus. But this short encounter with aikido, kept him wanting more. In 1996, Jim joined the Aiki Centre of Canada (Sensei Jeannette's new dojo) and continued to train diligently, not only at the Aiki Centre, but other nearby dojo's (Seikokan, Sensei Mark Lemmon, 6th Dan), and International guest seminars throughout Ontario and Mid-West America.


In 2004, Jim moved to Tokyo, Japan, and trained almost everyday for 2 years at the Yoshinkan Aikido Headquarters in Ochiai. On Friday's he would travel to Urayasu City, Chiba, to train in Yoshinkan Aikido Ryu's kenshu (intensive) class, with Ando Tsuneo Shihan. Ando Sensei's amazingly sharp, precise and powerful technique, inspired him to learn more.


In May of 2006, Jim joined Yoshinkan Aikido Ryu's 4th Annual Tokubetsu Course. And at the end of 2006, Jim quit his part-time job teaching English to become a full-time uchideshi (apprentice) at Yoshinkan Aikido Ryu.


Jim Dawes Sensei teaches classes throughout Tokyo, Saitama and Chiba, Japan. And has assisted Ando Shihan on seminars in Poland, Ukraine and Russia. Jim Sensei currently holds the rank of sandan (3rd degree blackbelt) and is a certified instructor by the Yoshinkan Aikido Honbu Dojo.

Urayasu City Sports Center

The Urayasu City Sports Center (urayasu-shi sogo taikukan) is located next to Tokyo Disney Land at 2-27 Maihama, Urayasu City, Chiba. It's a 10 minute walk from the JR Maihama station(Keiyo line). It's also easily accessible by car and/or bus.


The Urayasu City Sports Center is a great facility.It has a 65-person-capacity training room loaded with treadmills, cycle and weight machines and plenty of mat space to stretch out on. Then there's an indoor gym big enough for an NBA full-court press, a table-tennis room, two large martial-arts halls, one carpeted in tatami and a partially indoor archery range. Add to that two children's rooms, conference space and more. And that is just the North Wing.


The Southwest Wing houses four pools for your aquatic pleasure. They range from a 25-m-long eight-lane pool to its rehabilitative counterpart in which to walk a circular course. Top it all off with a spacious outdoor park, kids play area and eight pro-size tennis courts.


For more information on programs they offer you can contact the Sports Center at 047-355-1110. For Aikido Information please contact Jim Dawes Sensei directly at 090-9828-2602 or Yoshinkan Aikido Ryu at 047-355-7140.