Sensei Nick Pitman
Kai-Cho

Nick started his aikido training in 1980 at Fort Regent under Sensei Ezio Chatrian. He studied diligently under Ezio and many senior aikido instructors from the UK, most notably Sensei Mike Smith (Founder - Kaishinkai). When Ezio left Jersey in September 1986 Nick had progressed to 2nd Kyu. Over the next three years he travelled to the home of Sensei Smith almost on a monthly basis to undertake tuition. Following his 1st Kyu grading in Leeds in July 1987 Nick successfully attained his 1st Dan black belt twelve months later in Silverstone in front of a panel of five. He was awarded 2nd Dan in 1992 and 3rd Dan in 1997. In December 1995 he invited to Jersey a 4th Dan Aikido instructor from Liverpool that was to change his life and soon the direction of the Jersey Club. His name was Sensei Ted Devlin. In February 1996 Nick travelled to Devlin Sensei's dojo to teach there for the first time and subsequently made the decision to follow Devlin Sensei into his Mushin-Wado Shinpo Society England, an organisation set up just prior to Devlin Sensei coming to Jersey, and in deference to Sensei Devlin's original teacher, Master Francis Ramasamy of Malaysia.

Following his 1st Dan Mushin-Do Malaysia grading in 1996, Nick was graded to 2nd Dan during the first International Mushin-Do Seminars in Jersey in May 1997, 3rd Dan in December 1999 and was elevated to 4th Dan in November 2000 in Jersey by the Founder of Mushin-Do Master Ramasamy.

During July 2005 Nick decided, in his 25th anniversary of aikido training, to stand-alone as a group and withdrew from any UK affiliations to create the Phoenix (Jersey) School for Therapeutic Arts, an independent and self sufficient martial arts group. He was also instrumental in launching the Aikido Circle of Friendship, a non-constituted formless group, with the only proviso to membership being that one agrees to come together from time-to-time to train as friends with no political or personal agenda and no due influence over any other group.

Durning his aikido and mushin-do malaysia career Nick has trained under the following teachers of note: Sensei Mike Smith (Founder Kai-Shin-Kai); Sensei Tony Davis; Kancho Ted Devlin (Founder & Headmaster Mushin-Wado Shinpo Society Europe); Shihan Minoru Kanetsuka (British Aikido Federation); Kobayashi Sensei (Junior); Fumio Toyoda Sensei (Aikido Association International); Soke Francis Ramasamy (Founder Mushinkan Aikido); Murasaki Sensei and Tadatoshi Ueda Sensei (Harmonious Arts Association Japan).

Sensei Ian Michel
Chief Instructor (Aikido)

Pen picture coming soon...

Sensei Carl Ashcroft-Nowicki
Chief Instructor (Iaido)

Carl started training in Iai in 1993 at a time when Musashi UK, as Eikoku Roshukai was then, was still run under the auspices of the British Kendo Association. As there were no teachers in Jersey Carl had to travel to the UK every few months and was lucky enough to fall under the tutellage of very capable, right minded instructors.

Having split from the BKA in 1996 Musashi UK looked for assistance from a gentleman called Colin Hyakutake, living in Japan, to locate Japanese instructors dedicated to the study of Koryu (ie. old style Iai-jutsu rather than modern Iai-do). He put the group in contact with Iwata Norikazu Sensei who is renowned in Japan for his teaching of Koryu Iai-jutsu.

Iwata Sensei very kindly took Musashi under his wing and the group soon changed its name to Eikoku Roshukai, reflecting the name of Iwata Sensei's Roshukai organisation in Japan. Ever since then Iwata Sensei has overseen the teaching and development of Eikoku Roshukai. Even at the age of 96 (in 2006) his insight and teaching is sharp and he is quick to correct; demanding effort and questions in equal measure.

Carl is lucky enough to have trained personally with Iwata Sensei and his deshi in the UK and in Japan. Iwata Sensei has personally confirmed his happiness for Carl to teach the style of Iai-jutsu that he has worked so hard to keep alive and Carl and others in the UK are working hard to ensure that the true spirit of Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu continues into the 21st Century and beyond.

In Japanese they say "kiru wa shingan o yashinau" - cutting nurtures the mind’s eye. By right minded practice the exponent's ability to determine the right course of action in any situation is enhanced. The spirit is polished and the sword transcended.

Sifu Ashley Jehan
Chief Instructor (Tai Chi)

Ashley started training in T'ai Chi under Master Martin du Feu in 1989 and after a further two months began the study of Wushu as well. He achieved his black sash in 1995, comprising six styles of Wushu; weapons, 24 step yang style T'ai Chi and basic Pa Kua. Later that year he was introduced to and trained in T'ai Chi and Pa Kua under Master Zhaoping Ji.

In 1997 Ashley was invited, with Master du Feu, to Kunming, China by Master Ji. They trained in T'ai Chi, Wushu and weapons under Master Lui YongMin, push hands and drunken style under Master Li De Xiang and T'ai Chi and Pa Kua under Master Jingjie Sha. At the end of the visit Ashley received a Diploma from the Yunan Cultural College and was made Sifu of the Taoist Way Academy.

Sifu Jehan continued to train and teach under Master du Feu, taking over classes upon his retirement and subsequent move to France in 2002. In early 2006 Sifu Jehan was invited to teach his T'ai Chi and related arts as part of the Phoenix School curriculum and now runs two classes a week at the Graeme Pitman Memorial Dojo.

Sensei Deborah D'Ulivo Rogers
Instructor (Aikido and Iaido)

Deborah started her aikido studies at Fort Regent under Sensei Nick Pitman in 1992 and in 2000 took up Iai-Do with Sensei Carl Ashcroft-Nowicki. She currently holds 2nd Dan in traditional Aikido and 1st Dan in Iai-Do and is a registered instructor for both arts within the school curriculum. Debbie was promoted to 3rd Dan Aikido in April 2008.

Sensei Andrea D'Ulivo Rogers
Instructor (Aikido)

Andrea began his Aikido studies in 1992, under Sensei Nick Pitman and the Phoenix School of Aikido and the Kai Shin Kai, and in 2000 took up Iai-Do with Sensei Carl Ashcroft-Nowicki.

Over the years, he has had the privilege of studying Aikido and Mushin-do under Ezio Chatrian Sensei, Mike Smith Sensei, Tony Davis Sensei, Ted Devlin Kancho, Francis Ramasamy Soke, traveling to the UK, Fenis in Italy and Johor Baru in Malaysia.

He has also traveled to both the UK and to Ozu, Shikoku in Japan to study Iai, studying under Iwata Norikazu Sensei and his deshi, Neil Kemp Kaicho, Brian Morrison Sensei, Steve Watering Sensei, under the auspices of the Eikoku Roshukai.

Andrea was awarded a 1st Dan in traditional Aikido in December 1999, and a 2nd Dan in August of 2005. He was also awarded a 1st Dan in Mushin-do in 2002.

He is a registered instructor within the school curriculum.

Andrea was promoted to 3rd Dan in April 2008.

Sensei Chris Clark
Instructor (Aikido)

Chris started training in martial arts in 1986 at Reading University where he was fortunate to have the opportunity to study Kykushinkai Karate under Sensei Michael Thompson and Sensei Trevor Marriott two internationally respected competition fighters. After returning to Jersey he studied Shukokai with Sensei Derek Veitch and then Shotokan Karate under Pat Keegan. Chris attained his 1st Kyu in 1996 having trained with a number of respected KUGB instructors including Sensei Enoeda, Sensei Andy Sherry, Terry O'Neill, Bob Poynton, Bob Rhodes, Billy Higgins and Frank Brennan.

In 1998 he joined the Mushin-Wado Shinpo Society (Europe) Jersey-Kai (now the Phoenix (Jersey) School for Therapeutic Arts) and started to study Aikido under Senseis Nick Pitman, Geoff Glancy and Avelino Suco. A year later he also began to study Iai-Do under Sensei Carl Ashcroft-Nowicki.

Chris was promoted to 1st Dan Aikido in 2002 by Senseis Ted Devlin and Nick Pitman. In 2006 Chris was registered as an Aikido Instructor with the school. In March 2008 Chris was promoted to 2nd Dan Aikido.