Instructors

Ray Butcher

Ray is the Head Instructor of the Henshin Aikido and is the Head Coach of Balance Jiu Jitsu Ireland.

Ray has over 30 years experience in martial arts (Aikido, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Karate and Judo) with international experience training in Japan, Australia, France, Germany, United States and the UK.

He is a 3rd Dan Black Belt (Aikikai Sandan) in Aikido and Purple Belt Coach in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Phil Migliarese of Balance Jiu Jitsu, he is also an Ashtanga Yoga teacher.

Ray is the Lead Instructor of Defend U Ireland and a Master Level Women’s Self Defence Instuctor of the Women’s Self-Defense Institute. He is a full time Instructor and teaches Self Defence in Schools, Women’s Groups, Colleges, Universities  and Corporate Bodies. He teaches Defensive Tactics, Control & Restraint Classes and De-escalation Techniques to Law Enforcement, Security personnel and the Health sector.

Maeve D'Arcy

Maeve D’Arcy

Maeve has 16 years experience in martial arts (Aikido and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu) with international experience training in France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Czech Republic and the United States.

She is a 1st Dan black belt (Aikikai Shodan) in Aikido, a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a certified Control and Restraint/Defensive Tactics instructor, she specialises in Women’s Self Defence.

As a full time Instructor Maeve teaches Gracies Basics, Aikido and Self Defence classes at Defend U Ireland Training Studios. She also teaches Women’s Self Defence in Schools, Colleges and Corporate Bodies; and Defensive Tactics and Control & Restraint Classes to Law Enforcement and Security personnel and the Health sector.

Mauro Sulcis

Mauro Sulcis – Boxing and Kickboxing Coach

Mauro is from the Italian island of Sardinia, at the age of 17 he began Boxing with ex professional boxing champ Silvio Loi, who taught him an unconventional active-defence Russian style of fighting.  He also has experience in a wide range of disciplines including Tae Kwando, Thai Boxing, Capoeira, Judo and Wing Chung as well as acrobatics and break dancing. He excelled at kickboxing, and in 2003 won the Italian National Title in professional full-contact Kickboxing while training with Team Zanotti at Sempre Avanti Gym in Bologna.

Mauro has been working in Dublin since 2005, and offers group and private classes in Boxing and MMA striking and private Kickboxing lessons.

Stuart Whitton – Aikido Instructor

Stuart has been practicing Aikido since 2000 and is a 1st Dan Black Belt (Aikikai Shodan).

Stuart teaches the Aikido Beginners Courses, he also teaches the Saturday morning Aikido class.

Mark Argue – BJJ Coach

Mark is a 1st Dan black belt (Aikikai Shodan) in Aikido and a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He has been practicing Aikido since 2000 and started to train in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in 2005.

Mark teaches our Gracie Basics program.

Mike Moloney – Kettlebell Instructor & BJJ Coach

Mike has a level 1 IUKL Kettlebell certification from Vasilijs Ginko – IUKL Master of Sports.

He also has a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and a black belt in Kick Boxing. Mike has been training in Kick Boxing for 7 years. Prior to this he trained in Shotokan Karate and Boxing. He has competed in various national Kick Boxing tournaments and amateur MMA competitions. He is still training in MMA and competes in BJJ.

Andrew Higgins – BJJ Coach

Andrew has trained for more than ten years in Pai Lum, Long Fist & White Crane Kung Fu.  Taking particular interest in Chin Na (Seize & Control) techniques as taught by Dr Yang Jwing-Ming.

Andrew is currently a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and started his training in BJJ in 2007 with Balance Jiu Jitsu. He has international training experience in England, Poland, Hungary and the USA.

Andrew is a BJJ coach and also teaches our Gracie Basics program.

Gavin Darcy – Aikido Assistant Instructor

Gavin has 13 years experience in martial arts beginning with Kenpo Karate, and has been practicing Aikido for the last 9 years both in the UK and Ireland.
He currently holds the rank of 1st Kyu (Aikikai Ikkyu), he teaches the Aikido Beginners Course and is Lead Instructor for the childrens’ Saturday morning Aikido classes.

Marketa Hlucha – Aikido Assistant Instructor

Marketa currently holds the rank of 1st Kyu (Aikikai Ikkyu), she teaches the Aikido Beginners Course and the childrens’ Saturday morning class.

I started Aikido in 2001 in in the Czech Republic (www.aikidocb.cz/), I have always liked martial arts, but had never tried any until my friend introduced me to Aikido. I trained for a year and a half and although I liked the Aikido there, I did not feel that the Dojo was right for me.

Later when I finished college in 2004,  destiny brought me to Ireland where I started to look around to see if there was a possibility of training. I discovered a leaflet on our local shop and that was how I found Swords Aikido, in 2009  Henshin Aikido Dojo was formed as part of the new Defend University Ireland Training Studios. I really like the direction of Henshin Aikido and people I am training with.

In 2010 I started Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to learn more about movement and I found it very helpful to understand Aikido more too.
When Ray started to teach Ashtanga Yoga, I joined the class. Yoga helps me to build my core and stretch my body, which is needed in both sports I train in.