Francis Ramasamy

Shihan Francis Ramasamy was born in Penang, Malaysia in 1939. Francis was David Eayrs (Founder of Kenshinkai), first Yoshinkan Aikido instructor. Members of Kenshinkai visited Francis in Penang for intensive training courses every four years, starting in 1988. Francis had accumulated an impressive martial arts history, including training in Thai Muay Thai (Thai Boxing); Kodokan Judo 2nd Dan; Kendo 2nd Dan; and Shinden Fudo Ryu Kodachi Iai Shimpo 6th Dan. In addition, Francis held the rank of 7th Dan in Yoshinkan Aikido and had studied Aikido for over 50 years, training under many high ranking instructors including: Soke Shioda Sensei, Yagi Junchiro Sensei, Kushida Sensei, Takufumi Takeno Sensei and many others. Francis rented various premises and even used his own house as a temporary Dojo until 1985. Francis had travelled to Japan on many occasions to study under Gozo Shioda at the Yoshinkan Honbu Dojo. Francis had also taken part in Kangeiko (Winter Training) and trained with the Metropolitan Police in Tokyo. Francis felt that the repetitive uchikomi of Aikido reveals the truth of the ancient saying of the sage Lao Tse, "Read a book a hundred times, but do not read a hundred books at one time!".