Meet Your Instructors at the NIA

Shihan Kevin Christie 7^th Dan – Senior Instructor

Shihan Kevin Christie, 7^th Dan began practicing traditional Aikido at the tender age of 15 years old at the old Birmingham Athletic Institute under the tutelage of the late Shihan Ralph Reynolds.  He has since dedicated his life and career, spanning over three decades (34 years) to the Art after he was casually introduced to it by a friend, who later went on to become a leading exponent of Aikido himself.  

Shihan Christie was awarded his 1^st Dan by Shihan Ralph Reynolds in the Summer of 1977, after just two years of dedicated and committed practice.  He is well respected for his time served under Shihan Ralph Reynolds.  As a young man Shihan Christie was a member of an elite group with Shihan Donavan Waite and Shihan Chris Mooney who were known at the time as ‘The Eight’.   Due to his dedication and time spent as a member of that group he has come to set the high standards in Aikido today with whom so many Aikidokas now aspire.  

Shihan Kevin Christie aged 17 years old.

Shihan Christie in 1994 at the old Birmingham Sports Centre

Shihan Christie in 2005 at the NIA.

Having trained in Aikido for many years under Shihan Ralph Reynolds, Shihan Christie left to live, work and train in Europe where he further developed his skills and unique style.  After returning from France in 1991, he was offered the privileged position of Senior Instructor for Aikido at the National Indoor Arena (NIA).  It is here that he has proudly taught his committed students regularly on Wednesday evenings for the past 18 years, many of whom have gone on to become noted Dan grades and Instructors themselves.  After the sad passing of Shihan Ralph Reynolds in 2006, Shihan Christie continued with Shihan’s teachings by taking over his Advanced Tuesday night class at the former Birmingham Sports Centre.

Shihan Christie was awarded his 7^th Dan by Shihan Ralph Reynolds in the Summer of July, 2004 and holds the British Aikido Board’s highest Coaching award as Senior Instructor (Level 3).  He was formally Joint Head and a Board Member of the Aikido Fellowship of Great Britain before leaving to set up his own organisation.

Sensei Ken Williams 2nd Dan – Instructor

Sensei Ken Williams, 2nd Dan holds a full Level 1 Coaching Instructor Qualification and has over 10 years experience in Aikido.  Sensei Williams was also a student of the late Shihan Ralph Reynolds of the Aikido Fellowship of Great Britain and has trained under and supported Shihan Kevin Christie at the NIA for a number of years.  He has attended courses and trained under noted Aikidokas such as, Shihan Christian Tissier, Shihan Donovan Waite, Shihan Yamada, Sensei Hayden Foster and Sensei David Packer.  Having practiced Martial Arts since his early childhood, he has a background in several other disciplines such as Judo, Jujitsu, Kendo and Wing Chun.  He is also a 2nd Dan Muay Thai Instructor.

His main priority at the Club is to ensure beginners have a strong foundation on which to build their training.  This includes getting the basics right before moving on to learn the advanced techniques through focus, concentration and exercise.