Chris Mooney

Chris Mooney is a martial artist in the Japanese martial art of aikido, and dojo-cho of Ei Mei Kan Aikido Dojo in Birmingham, UK. He was a student of Kazuo Chiba who was the Technical Director of the British Birankai, a direct student of the founder of aikido, Morihei Ueshiba. He holds 7th Dan in Aikido, accredited to him by the founder's grandson third and current Doshu (hereditary head) of the Aikikai, Moriteru Ueshiba, the 2008 Kagamibiraki. He has also been awarded the title of Shihan by Hombu Dojo in 2006, also conferred on him by the third Doshu.

Apart from maintaining his own dojo, Chris Mooney teaches in many countries around the world including France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Kazakhstan, Switzerland, Turkmenistan, and around the United Kingdom. He has also taught Aikido at several universities including Ashton University, Birmingham University, and The University of Warwick, the last of which has a dojo called Gen Sen Jyuku which was established in 1988.

Aikido

Training History Chris Mooney began his training in 1973 under Ralph Reynolds at the Birmingham Athletic Institute. He stayed there four five years, and received his Shodan accreditation from him. Subsequently, he became a member of the West Midlands Aikikai and a student of Reynold's teacher William Smith, and finally the teacher of the line: Kazuo Chiba, with whom he spent several decades.

Northfield In the year 2000, the dojo moved to the YMCA in Northfield, where the grim industrial surroundings were exchanged for the more populous South Birmingham suburbia. It was now a converted a squash court, using all the materials brought from Fazeley Street, and a lot of volunteer effort members and supporters. Although the tatami at Northfield was much smaller than at Fazeley Street, there was no longer a pillar in the middle of the mat.

The University of Warwick aikido club was given the name Gen Sen Jyuku by the master Kazuo Chiba on his visit in 2008. The meaning literally translated is "essence of a spring" inspired by the position the club has of being the launching point of many aikidoka's careers.