Phil Musson Sensei (5th Dan)
After leaving school Phil Sensei served in the British Army before joining the Police where he worked for 30 years, with substantial time dedicated to Child Protection.
Phil first began training in Honti Yoshin Ryu Jiu Jitsu and Karate when he was 14 years old. Subsequently attaining Black Belt Shodan in Jiu Jitsu and Kick Boxing. He also spent three years boxing at ABA Level representing the East Midlands at middle weight.
In 1998 he was introduced to Ken Robson Shihan (7th dan head of Shudokan Institute of Aikido International) and immediately began taking instruction in Aikido directly from Robson Sensei until Phil left to form the Eagle Dojo with his wife Rachael
2002 Robson Shihan awarded Phil his Shodan.
2003 – Nidan – Robson Shihan
2006 – Sandan – Robert Mustard Shihan (8th Dan Yoshinkan Aikido Canada) Robson Shihan.
2010 – Yondan – Robert Mustard Shihan – Joe Thambu Shihan (8th Dan Aikido Shudokan Australia – Robson Shihan.
2015 – Godan – Robert Mustard Shihan (8th Dan Yosinkan Aikido Canada)
Phil has been to Malaysia several times to train under Master Thamby Rajah Sensei 9th Dan. He has visited Canada to train with Robert Mustard Shihan and visited Australia to train with Joe Thambu Shihan.
In 2012 Phil Sensei took a group of students from the Eagle Dojo to Malaysia to take part in the 100 Years Of Aikido Seminar. At the conclusion of the seminar Phil was invited to perform a demonstration as a guest instructor in the final ceremony and he was awarded a Diploma of recognition by the University of South East Asia for his dedicated work to promoting the Martial Arts around the world.
When Phil first found Aikido he ceased training in other Martial Arts as he recognized that the Combat Effective Readiness of Aikido would provide him with a life time of learning and would teach him not only a method of defending himself that was second to none but also provide him with the discipline, confidence, focus, inner-strength and self-belief that would help him on a daily basis in all aspects of life.
Together with his wife Rachael Phil has been teaching Aikido classes in West Bridgford since 2005 and in 2008 they moved their classes to the current location and founded The Eagle Dojo Along with his wife, Phil is driven by the prospect of promoting and growing Aikido in the Nottingham area.
In 2023 The Eagle Dojo was officially recognised and affiliated to Aikido Shudokan International (ASI) directly under Joe Thambu Shihan.
Rachael Musson Sensei (2nd Dan)
Rachael first began training in Aikido at the Shudokan Institute of Aikido International in 2000 attending classes at various dojos in Nottingham and received instruction directly from Ken Robson Shihan.
In 2004 Robson Shihan together with Master Thamby Rajah Sensei 9th Dan from Malaysia and Joe Thambu Shihan awarded Rachael her Shodan and Instructors Certificate in Shudokan Aikido.
In November 2012 Rachael was awarded her 2nd Dan by Ken Robson Shihan.
Rachael has also visited Malaysia to train under Master Thamby Rajah Sensei 9th Dan and other prominent Aikido instructors from Malaysia before visiting Australia to receive instruction from Joe Thambu Shihan at the Shudokan Dojo Melbourne.
Rachael has attended many seminars around the UK and Europe in order to take instruction from many senior Aikido Instructors in order to further her understanding of Aikido.
Rachael first began teaching as an assistant instructor for Robson Sensei at the Shudokan Headquarters dojo in Nottingham. Later together with Phil Musson Sensei, Rachael taught Aikido at David Lloyds Health club in West Bridgford prior to starting the full time Eagle Dojo where she continues to teach today.
Rachael is also a British Aikido Board Level I Instructor.
Abi Hallam Sensei (4th Dan)
Abi began training with the Shudokan under Michael Choo Sensei at the Sandiacre school when she was 8 years old. She later moved to the West Bridgford School to train directly under Phil Musson Sensei. In December 2011 she was awarded her Junior Shodan by Ken Robson Shihan.
On the 25th of July 2013 together with Robert Mustard Shihan and Joe Thambu Shihan Abi was awarded her Shodan by Robson Shihan.
Abi is now one of the regular instructors at the dojo and teachers on all of the scheduled sessions.
On the 23rd of July 2014 together with Robert Mustard Shihan and Joe Thambu Shihan Abi was awarded her Nidan by Robson Shihan. At the age of only 17 Abi became the youngest Nidan within the Shudokan aikido group anywhere in the World.
In 2024 Abi travelled to Australia and trained at the ASI Hombu Dojo before testing to 4th dan under Thambu Sensei, after testing Abi travelled and trained in Indonesia and Malaysia before returning to the Eagle Dojo where she continues to instruct and share her knowledge.
James Saunders Sensei (2nd Dan)
James first started his martial arts career in 2008, when he started Jiu Jitsu while at university. This sparked an interest in martials arts and pushed him to train in many different disciplines including Judo, Wing Chun and Tai Chi, winning numerous awards and competitions in the process.
He first begun Aikido in 2010 with Richard Brownbill Sensei (3rd Dan) a student of Soke Stratton the founder of Aikido Shudokan UK.
In 2012 James became a student and assistant instructor under Sarah Cullerne Sensei (4th Dan Aikido Shudokan under Joe Thambu Shihan) and assisted in the setting up and running of her new dojo in Hatfield.
During 2014 James attained the rank of a Shodan after testing at summer school in Poland under Pawel Felisiak Sensei (5th Dan and Head of Aikido Shudokan Poland).
From 2012 – 2017 James taught and trained with Sarah Cullerne Sensei and Daniel Felisiak Sensei (3rd Dan Aikido Shudokan).
In 2018 James joined the dedicated students and instructors of Shobukan Nottingham at The Eagle Dojo, Nottingham, where under the guidance of Phil Musson Sensei (5th Dan), he graded to the rank of Nidan.
James now teaches and trains regularly at The Eagle Dojo and is dedicated to the development of the dojo, its students and staff.
In 2018 James travelled to Japan to train at the Yoshinkan Honbu Dojo where he completed the Shochū geiko (Summer training course). This has now become a yearly tradition where he travels to the Yoshinkan Honbu Dojo in order to add to and support his ever growing knowledge of Aikido.
Matt Green (1st Dan)
Matt began his training in Martial Arts in Aikido at the Eagle Dojo under Phil Sensei.
Since achieving his 1st Kyu he has assisted with the junior sessions. He obtained his 1st Dan Black Belt in 2020 and more recently is responsible for teaching most of the junior sessions.
He is a qualified Instructor of Aikido as sanctioned by the British Aikido Association.
Louise Mullany-Green
Louise began her training in Martial Arts in Aikido at the Eagle Dojo under Phil Sensei.
Since achieving his 1st Kyu she has assisted with the junior sessions.
She is a qualified Instructor of Aikido as sanctioned by the British Aikido Association.
Louise has spent time in Australia training at the ASI Hombu dojo and is currently the Dojo Administrator for the Eagle dojo.