The history of Aikido Shudokan begins with Thamby Rajah Sensei.

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The founding father of Aikido in Malaysia, Thamby Rajah Sensei began his martial arts career with the study of judo. He traveled from Malaya (as it was then known) by ship in 1957 for eleven days, arriving in Japan to seek training under Harayoshi Ichijima Sensei and Mifune Kyuso Sensei, the latter of whom was a 10th dan and one of the foremost exponents of judo at the time.

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Thamby Rajah Sensei was introduced to the founder of Yoshinkan Aikido, Soke Gozo Shioda during his time of training in Japan. Fascinated with the martial art, he studied under the watchful eye of Soke Shioda from 1959 as his student. Upon his return home to Malaysia, Thamby Rajah Sensei made history by becoming the first ever Malaysian to attain a black belt both in judo and Yoshinkan aikido. He would one day attain world records for these achievements, in addition to being Malaysia’s oldest and longest-practicing Aikido teacher.

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In Japan, Soke Shioda presented Thamby Rajah Sensei with the name “Shudokan” which Thamby Rajah Sensei crowned the founding dojo in his hometown of Seremban in Malaysia. The name as explained by its components – “Shu” means to study, “Do” means the way, and “Kan” means the house – is translated as “the house to study the way of Aikido”.

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Thamby Rajah Sensei’s most notable students include his nephew and the founder of Aikido Shudokan Australia Joe Thambu Shihan (8th dan), as well as the late Edwin William James Stratton (9th dan) the founder of the Shudokan Institute of Aikido International in the United Kingdom.

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Thamby Rajah Sensei continued to teach Aikido until he passed away on 3rd November 2022, at the age of 97. He is remembered as a respected and influential figure in the world of Aikido, and his teachings continue to inspire students and instructors around the world.