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Here are some short bios of the Dublin Aikikai Aikido instructors.
Founder and Head Instructor of the Dublin Aikikai Aikido
Head Instructor Swords Dojo Ray is the managing director and head instructor of Defend U Ireland. As a full time Instructor he travels around Ireland teaching Self Defence in Schools, Colleges and Corporate Bodies. He teaches Defensive Tactics and Control & Restraint Classes to members of the Garda Síochána, Security personnel and the Health sector. He teaches regular classes in Aikido and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Swords, Co. Dublin and Fairview, Dublin 3. Instructor
Instructor While practising there he met Cyril Lagrasta who also practised at Pearse Street for a number of years. When Cyril opened his own dojo in Phibsboro, Michael decided to change and follow the dynamic, fluid style taught by Cyril. Michael has practised at the Phibsboro dojo and other Dublin Aikikai Aikido affiliated dojos since then. Michael has travelled extensively to attend courses in Japan, France and other European countries and has had exposure to many different instructors this way. In addition, the opportunity presented when overseas instructors visit Ireland is not passed over and Michael enjoys the fresh perspective and insights given by these visiting instructors, as well as practising with the greater Irish Aikido community. The visiting instructors from France - Luc Mathevet, Marc Bachraty, and in particular Philippe Gouttard have been a constant influence on Michael's Aikido through the years. Michael was awarded 2nd Dan Aikikai by Philippe Gouttard in 2005. Instructor Judith moved to Philadelphia in 2004 where she began to train at the Philadelphia Aikikai with Henry Smith Shihan. Philadelphia Aikikai is affiliated to the United States Aikido Federation (USAF), headed by Yoshimitsu Yamada Shihan, another one of O Sensei's close students. During her five years in Philadelphia, Judith attended seminars and summer camps in Philadelphia, New York, Washington D.C. and New Jersey. She had the opportunity to attend classes instructed by many highly respected instructors. In January 2009 Judith McSpadden got promoted to the rank of 1st Dan Aikikai by Yoshimitsu Yamada Shihan in his New York headquarters. Shortly after, she moved back home to Belfast where she immediately started looking for a new Aikido training place. It is during her search for a dojo in Ireland that she discovered the Dublin Aikikai, the headquarters of the Eire Aikikai headed by Cyril Lagrasta, 4th Dan Aikikai. On her first visit in January 2009 she was excited and inspired by the clean technique, powerful dynamic movement, yet very gentle approach and decided that she would continue her Aikido apprenticeship within Lagrasta's organisation. Since her return to Ireland, Judith has trained extensively all over Ireland and she has had the opportunity to travel to Europe and experience Aikido in France, Italy, Sweden and England under the direction of masters such as Philippe Gouttard, 6th Dan Aikikai and technical director of the Eire Aikikai and Christian Tissier Shihan, 7th Dan Aikikai and technical director of the French Aikido Federation (FFAAA). Although Judith made weekly trips from Belfast to Dublin in order to train at the Dublin Aikikai for over a year, it became an evidence that she would have to find a way to practice Aikido in her home city of Belfast. So under the guidance of Cyril Lagrasta and Philippe Gouttard, she set out to look for a training place in order to setup her own Dojo. The Belfast Aikikai opened its doors in March 2010, in affiliation with the Eire Aikikai. It is through this outstanding martial journey under the guidance of some of the most influential Aikido instructors in the world that Judith McSpadden has come to realise that Aikido is a very personal journey, experienced and expressed very differently by each individual. She is convinced however that Aikido can work for anyone, regardless of age, size, gender or strength. Currently, she is specifically interested in examining the use of force, and how to deal with the physical reaction to conflict and fear. While passionately teaching in Belfast, she continues her own apprenticeship by attending seminars all around Europe. |
Cyril started practicing Aikido in 1987 at the dojo of Grenoble University under the instruction of Eric Matton. He then met Philippe Gouttard who was giving a monthly class at that dojo. 
Ray Butcher has more than 30 years experience in martial arts (Aikido, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Karate and Judo) with international experience training in Japan, Australia, France, Germany , the United States and the UK. He is a 3rd dan in Aikido and a one stripe blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Michael started practicing Aikido in 2001 with John Rogers in Pearse Street, Dublin under the Irish Aikido Federation. This is where he learned the fundamentals of Aikido with a strong emphasis on traditional form. This knowledge and work has proven very valuable throughout his Aikido practice. 
Judith McSpadden grew up in Belfast and moved to the United States in 2002. She started practicing Aikido in 2003 at the Aikido Schools of Ueshiba (ASU) dojo in Washington D.C., headed by Mitsugi Saotome Shihan, an uchi deshi (live-in student) of O Sensei Morihei Ueshiba. As she witnessed Saotome Sensei's performance, she was immediately struck by the gentle and fluid yet dynamic power of the movement.
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