Sensei Sargeant began training in Aikido, in Cambridge, at the age of 23. When he was at Ikkyu level he inherited the Cambridge Aikido club from his teacher who had been subject to long term health problems. In order to further his studies Sensei Sargeant would regularly travel to 'The Hut' in London (Institute Of Aikido).
In February 1983 the turning point in Sensei Sargeant's Aikido career came when, as Shodan, he first trained under Morihiro Saito Sensei, 9th dan Shihan, in New Zealand.
He was so impressed that he decided to follow Saito Sensei's teachings and adopt his style. Accordingly Sensei Sargeant has attended Saito Sensei's seminars around the World and has maintained close links with other Iwama teachers.
Through his studies and commitment Sensei Sargeant has become a leading light in Aiki Ken and Aiki Jo.
In 1991 Sensei Sargeant formed Traditional Aikido Iwama Style, with Paul McGlone (Godan), of the Poole Aikido club. Since then the organisation has grown to over 600 members in England, Scotland and Wales, and in 1994 changed its name to Traditional Aikido Iwama Ryu GB, following official recognition from Saito Sensei.
In the same year Sensei Sargeant was awarded his Godan, whilst training at the birth place of Aikido (Iwama Dojo), by Saito Sensei. In November 2002, Sensei Sargeant gained his Rokudan. Sensei Sargeant also holds a Yondan Bukiwaza.
As Sensei Sargeant now resides in Greece and is the head of Takemusu Iwama
Aikido in Great Britain, Greece and Russia, the organisation changed it's name
from Takemusu Iwama Aikido GB to Takemusu Iwama Aikido Europe in 2007.
This resulted from Sensei Sargeant's numerous teaching visits to Russia - over
many
years - and the dedication of the students from a large amount of dojo’s that now
follow him throughout Europe.
It was decided to give a wider acknowledgement to those dojos outside of the UK
and to give them the same status thereby aligning every dojo equally.
All these dojos strive for one thing. To keep teaching the original Aikido
passed down from O’Sensei to the late Saito Sensei and not the modern Aikido
that is seen to day.
