Michael Smith began practising Aikido in 1968 with Mr W.J. Smith M.B.E, that year he was promoted to 5th Kyu on his first grading. It was later this year he met Chiba Sensei and soon realised that this was the path of Martial Arts training he wanted to take. On being promoted to 3rd Kyu on his second grading by Chiba Sensei in early 1969, (this is when he joined the Aikikai of Great Britain)  he embarked on almost eight years of dynamic concentrated training in Bokken, Jo, Bo, Iaido and of course the body art itself.

        These years with Chiba Sensei, and under the strict instruction of Mr Smith gave him and many others a good realisation of Aikido, making the foundations of what is practised and taught today. Already being 1st Kyu he was given permission to wear Hakama in 1973 and then promoted to Shodan in 1974. His progression took him to 6th Dan in January 2010 by the way of 2nd Dan in 1989, 3rd Dan in 1993, 4th Dan in 1996, and 5th Dan in 2002. Gaining his coaching qualifications on the way, he was awarded awarded Fukushidoin in 1989, Senior Coach in 1994 and Coach Tutor for the British Aikido Board in 1995. In January 2000 he was promoted to Shidoin. Michael Smith is a Senior Instructor at the U.K.A. Headquarters Dojo (Ren Shin Kan) at Old Hill.

Philip Smith Shihan, 6th Dan Hombu Shidoin, is one of the senior instructors of the United Kingdom Aikikai. He teaches regularly at Ren Shin Kan, UKA national courses and at the annual Summer School and the son of Ren Shin Kan and UKA founder William Smith Shihan MBE who died in 2006.
He is unusual in his early age of starting training (aged 9), and wide travels with Aikido.

Philip Smith began Aikido as a junior in 1968 as a member of the Aikikai of Great Britain and in 1970 he began training with T K Chiba Shihan obtaining his Shodan in 1976 at the age of 17.
Following Chiba Shihans’ return to Japan Philip travelled extensively with M Kanetsuka Shihan as well travelling and training in the USA with Arikawa, Yamada and Kanai Senseis and Europe training with Tamura, Asai and Tissier Senseis.

In 1988 he represented the UKA at the International Aikido Federation Congress in Tanabe Japan and was privileged to be present at the unveiling of the statue of O Sensei commissioned to commemorate the centenary of his birth.
Whilst in Japan he trained with Shirata, Okamura, Arikawa, Yamaguchi and Sugunuma Senseis as well as the 2nd Doshu of Aikido, Ueshiba Kisshomaru and in 2001 Philip attended the European seminar in Paris taught by the present Doshu Ueshiba Moriteru.
Since then Philip has conducted seminars in Greece,Serbia and Australia as well delivering coaching courses throughout the UK on behalf of the British Aikido Board.

Philip began his Iai-do training in ca. 1972 and gained  3rd Dan with the British Kendo Association in 1988. He continues to train and teach Iai-do at Ren Shin Kan with the assistance of Karl Gibbons (2nd Dan BKA).