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Foster
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Haydn
Foster 7th Dan
Principal Coach of the Institute of Aikido

Foster Sensei 1927 - 2011
It
is with great regret that we have to
announce the death of the Principal of
the Hut Dojo and Chief Instructor and
Technical Director of the Institute of
Aikido, Haydn Foster Sensei.
Foster Sensei passed away suddenly at
home on Sunday 13 February. We should
like to extend our deepest sympathy to
his wife Alice, his grandson Paul and
all the Foster family. He will be very
much missed by his many students and
friends in the world of Aikido.
Foster Sensei’s aim was always that
others should derive as much pleasure
from Aikido as he himself did. He would
often say that it is not what I have
done for Aikido but more what Aikido has
given me. Foster Sensei’s legacy is the
Institute of Aikido which will ensure
the continued study of the art which he
held dear.
To him Aikido was a
never ending journey of discovery and
learning and therefore we should all now
continue our journey in the same spirit.
Press Release ( August 2012
)
High honour
for Aikido pioneer
On
Friday 3rd August, former Heathrow
airport porter, Haydn W. Foster, was
posthumously graded 7th dan by Shihan T
K Chiba, a senior representative of the
Aikido World Headquarters in Japan. This
award was given in recognition of
Haydn’s significant contribution to
Aikido for over 50 years. During this
time, he was a major pioneer of the art
and helped to spread it throughout the
UK. After a short ceremony, the
certificate was presented to his widow
Alice, and to his grandson Paul
Foster-Dent. Among Haydn’s many
achievements were that, during the
1960s, his 1st and 2nd dan certificates
were two of the very few in the UK which
were signed by O-Sensei, the founder of
Aikido. Haydn also played a major part
in the first major martial arts
demonstration held at the Royal Albert
hall in the mid 1960s. In 1973, he
founded the Institute of Aikido, and was
one of the founding members of the
British Aikido Board, the governing body
for Aikido in the UK. Haydn was the
senior instructor at the Hut dojo in
West London, the birthplace of Aikido in
the UK, where he continued to teach
until his death in 2011 at the age of
83. His grandson, Paul, continues to
teach at the Hut dojo.
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Sensei Foster began his aikido training some time
towards the end of 1956 / beginning of 1957 at the Hut
Dojo, near Heathrow airport. He was awarded 1st Dan by
Kenshiro Abbe Sensei in 1960, and 2nd Dan by Mutsuharu
Nakazono Sensei in 1962, one of the oldest Hombu grading
certificates in the UK. He was awarded 3rd Dan by
Masamichi Noro Sensei in 1969. |
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In 1973, following the demise of the Renown Aikido
Society (1966-1969), Foster Sensei was approached by the
ex- members and asked to reconstruct the society as the
Institute of Aikido.
Now 7th Dan (IA) Mr. Foster
continues to teach at the ‘Hut’ dojo and directs the
annual institute of Aikido Summer School. Foster sensei
and has made recent teaching tours of New Zealand and
teaches on the former BIG 3 now the Annual Lowestoft
course. |
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On the 2nd and 3rd of June 2007, Sensei’s and
students from many different organizations gathered
together at Bisham Abbey National Sports centre for a
course to honor and celebrate Mr. Foster’s 50th year in
Aikido and his 80th Birthday. |
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