60 Years of Aikido - Thamby Rajah Kancho

Inevitably the story of Shudokan begins with Thamby Rajah Sensei, the father of Malaysian Aikido. Having already started to train in Judo in Malaysia, travelled to Japan to further his studies In Japan. Sensei Thamby trained under many notable Judo teachers including Ichijima Sensei as well as Mifune Kyuso Sensei (10th Dan) one of the foremost teachers at the Kodokan.
Whilst training at the Kodokan, Sensei Thamby was introduced to Soke Gozo Shioda. As a result, Sensei Thamby combined his training of Judo with that of Yoshinkan Aikido. A year later, Sensei Thamby returned to Malaysia having been awarded a Shodan (black belt) in Judo (the first Malaysian to do so) and a Black belt in Aikido.
Whilst in Japan, Soke Gozo Shioda gave Sensei Thamby the dojo name of 'Shudokan'. "Shu" meaning to study, 'do' meaning the way and 'kan' meaning house. On returning to Seremban, Sensei Thamby established the 'Shudokan' the 'place to learn the way'. Sensei Thamby taught Aikido there, introducing Aikido to Malaysia for the first time.
Thamby Rajah Sensei was inducted into the Malaysia Book of Records as the first Malaysia to achieve black belts in Judo and Aikido as well as the first Aikido Dojo in Malaysia.