19/11/2025
We look forward to hosting Steve Trout – Senior Instructor, City of London Shodokan Aikido this Friday.
Steve Trout began his journey in Shodokan Aikido in the early 1980s under the guidance of the late Phil Newcombe sensei. Over the following decades, he trained, graded, and served as uke for Newcombe sensei both in the UK and internationally. When Newcombe sensei relocated to Spain, Steve assumed leadership of Shodokan London—now known as City of London Shodokan— to distinguish it from other clubs in the capital. Under his stewardship, it remains the longest-running Shodokan Aikido club in Europe.
A seasoned competitor, Steve represented his club and country in national and international tournaments throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Today, he continues to teach across the UK, in Spain, and Switzerland, committed to preserving the legacy of Newcombe sensei and maintaining the technical integrity of Shodokan Aikido as taught by Nariyama Shihan and the Hombu Dojo in Osaka. He visits the Hombu annually for intensive training and receives ongoing technical input from Jon Cameron Sensei (7th Dan).
With over 40 years of experience, Steve’s teaching philosophy is simple and authentic: to pass on the art exactly as it was taught to him, allowing the Shodokan system to speak for itself.
