aikido@iinet.net.au

Profile - John Turnbull 5th Dan

Founding Father of Canberra Aikido

John Turnbull Sensei is one of the most senior Martial Artist in the country, having spent forty years pursuing Martial Art. He is the most senior Aikido instructor resident in Canberra and is well liked and widely respected in the Martial Art community.

In the early days of Aikido, Turnbull Sensei started a number of Canberra Aikido centres, including classes at the Police Boys Club in Turner and the Woden YMCA. He left these in the hands of other instructors to concentrate on the development of the ANU Aikido Club, which he founded in 1968. His love of Martial art started when he was nine.

Inspired by his uncle's love of boxing and wrestling, he began a long pursuit into the depths of the strategies of self-defence and personal combat, which in the early years led him from the Western sports of boxing and wrestling into the pure combat techniques of Aiki-Jitsu. For thirteen years he trained in these and associated arts such as competition rifle shooting, archery and knife throwing, then in 1965 he met a master (Sugano Shihan sensei) of Aikido fresh from Japan and the teachings of Aikido's Founder, Morehei Ueshiba O'Sensei. He studied for many years with Sugano Shihan (once a live-in student of the Founder) and in 1984 hosted an international visit in Canberra where Sugano Sensei introduced him to Doshu (the world head of Aikido and son of the Founder) as his senior student.

During his 33 years of Aikido practice he has hosted a number of national and international visitors including Dojo-cho Ueshiba (grandson of the Founder) and high-ranking overseas instructors. Through his martial pursuits he has come to look deeply into the inner aspects of the human spirit and psyche, and how we can tune in with the life-energy which animates all things. His classes therefore consist not only of instruction in physical technique, but also of valuable insights into the flow of life-energy called Ki or Chi (one of the defining concepts of Aikido).

He combines personal experience with traditional Martial Art anecdotes to convey concepts which otherwise could not be explained, for unlike some other would-be Aikido instructors, he has had a number of on the street life-and-death encounters, emerging the victor in all cases. He once saved the life of a co-worker who was being strangled to the point where he had lost consciousness and was turning blue. He pulled the attacker off, who then attacked Turnbull with fists flailing, but was knocked unconscious for his trouble. When he came to he attacked again, and this time Turnbull Sensei sobered the madman by breaking his arm.

In another encounter he defeated four attackers by knocking one out and throwing another to the ground, whereupon the others fled. On their cautious and humble return he ordered them to put their fallen comrades into their car and leave, which they quietly did. On another occasion an argument arose with a commando who attacked with insane rage. Turnbull's nose was broken, but he responded with a blow so powerful it split the attacker's face open, smashing his upper jaw, knocking his teeth out and leaving him senseless on the ground.

Turnbull Sensei regrets all incidents where another human being must be injured, but teaches that self-preservation and the protection of the innocent and of those we love takes precedence over consideration for the well-being of those who would kill or injure us. He trains daily and teaches classes several times a week at the Australian National University and other centres. He runs beginners' classes each semester with the assistance of students and his son who has inherited his father's love of Aikido. For information and class details please phone (02) 6241 5967.