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[edit] Thamby Rajah

Thamby Rajah, the father of Malaysian Aikido, is the founder, director and chief instructor of the Shudokan Institute of Aikido, International.

Thamby started his martial arts training in Jujutsu, attaining his black belt in 1952. He later traveled to Japan to study martial arts further, now Judo and Karate. When he was in Japan, Master Thamby trained Judo daily under Ichijima Sensei and also Mifune Kyuso Sensei, of the Kodokan, Judo's Hombu Dojo, the only active 10th Dan of the day. It was Judo in the morning and Karate in the afternoon.

During his time in Japan, Thamby was introduced to Yoshinkan Kancho, Gozo Shioda Soke (10th Dan), after which Thamby began to train in Aikido under Shioda Sensei along side Judo.

Thamby returned to Japan a number of times in the '50s, gaining his black belt in Judo from Mifune Sensei, becoming the first Malaysian to do so. Thamby also gained his black belt in Aikido from Shioda Sensei, also becoming the first Aikido black belt in Malaysia, and introduced Aikido to Malaysia for the very first time.

In Seremban, Malaysia, Thamby opened the Shudokan (a name given to him by Mifune Sensei). The first Judo and Aikido dojo in the country.