4th Dan Aikido
Bart Lea started training in 2000 at the Yoshinkan Aikido Ryu Hombu Dojo under Tsuneo Ando Shihan in Urayasu Japan. While in Japan, Bart participated in numerous demonstrations, camps and seminars including the the Ryu Dojo Annual Demonstration, the All Japan Yoshinkan Aikido Demonstration and the Yamanashi Annual Demonstration. In 2003, he attained the rank of Shodan under Ando Shihan before returning to Australia in 2004.
After relocating to Melbourne and becoming a member of Aikido Shudokan, Bart attained the rank of Nidan in 2008. Since that time, Bart has had the privilege of teaching at both the Heidelberg (formerly Thornbury) and Springvale (formerly Oakleigh) Dojos and in 2013 Bart graded for Sandan under Joe Thambu Shihan. In both Japan and Australia, Bart has been fortunate enough to train under some of the leading practitioners of Aikido in the world; including, Inoue Kyoichi Hanshi, Takeno Takefumi Shihan, Tsutomu Chida Shihan, Ando Tsuneo Shihan and Robert Mustard Sensei.
Bart was awarded the rank of Yondan in 2017 by Inoue Kyoichi Kancho, 10th Dan.
