Ramlan Ortega Shihan (6th Dan, Aikido)

Ramlan Ortega Shihan (PhD MA) is the head of Aikido Shudokan Malaysia and Aikido Shudokan Singapore.

He began his aikido journey in 1995 and received his 1st dan black belt from Kancho Inoue Kyoichi Sensei (10th dan) who was then the Headmaster of the International Yoshinkan Aikido Federation in Japan circa 1997. Ramlan Shihan became a student of Thamby Rajah Sensei in 1998 and, one year later, received his 2nd dan.

Master Thamby Rajah sent Ramlan Shihan in January of 2002 to Melbourne for intensive personal training under his nephew, Joe Thambu Shihan (8th dan), the Chief Instructor of Aikido Shudokan Australia and also the Shuseiki Shihan of our parent organisation, Aikido Shudokan International. In March of 2003, he received his 3rd dan from Inoue Kancho on the latter’s visit to Melbourne, and later attained his 4th dan after being graded by Joe Thambu Shihan in July of 2007. In March of 2012 in Melbourne, he was awarded his 5th dan after grading in front of Inoue Kancho. In June of 2018, Ramlan Shihan was awarded his 6th Dan and most recently on 29 March 2019, conferred the title of Shihan from Aiko Inoue Kaicho and Joe Thambu Shuseiki Shihan.

Ramlan Shihan has devoted his life to spreading aikido under the tutelage of his mentor Joe Thambu Shihan and founded both the Malaysian and Singaporean schools of Aikido Shudokan. He has returned to Australia and Japan many times over the last two decades for advanced training and to participate in aikido demonstrations and seminars. Ramlan Shihan has featured in numerous demonstrations in Indonesia, Thailand, Australia and Japan, as well as participated in the illustrious 50th Anniversary All Japan Yoshinkan Aikido Demonstration in September 2005.

Over the course of his career, Ramlan Shihan has also trained under world-renowned aikido teachers such as Kancho Kyoichi Inoue (10th dan), Tsutomo Chida Shihan (8th dan), Takafumi Takeno Shihan (9th dan), Yasuhisa Shioda Kancho (son and successor of Soke Gozo Shioda) and Robert Mustard Shihan (8th dan), all of whom are notable luminaries in the world of yoshinkan aikido and with whom he maintains cordial relations with to this day.