Instructors

Christophe Depaus - 6th dan Aikikai (Dojo-Cho)

CERTIFIED TEACHER Hands & Weapons (GIAS system - Sugano Shihan)
SHIDOIN
  • 1992  national Shodan
  • 1992  Shodan Aikikai | S. Sugano Shihan
  • 2005  Yondan Aikikai | S. Sugano Shihan
  • 2011  Godan Aikikai | S. Sugano Shihan et C. Tissier Shihan
  • 2017  Rokudan Aikikai | C. Tissier Shihan
  • 2003  1st level "sword – IAS system" | S. Sugano Shihan
  • 2005  Fukushidoin | Francophone Aikido Association (AFA)
  • 2008  "Teacher Certificate" | S. Sugano Shihan
  • 2010  Shidoin | AFA
  • 2024  "instructore livello IV" (instructor level 4) | ProjettoAiki, Italian dojos association
  • 2004  speaker, demonstrator | symposium on the history, philosophy, and practice of martial arts, University of Artois (Arras-France)
  • 2004  Belgian demonstrator | 9th International Congress, Tokyo (Japan)
  • 2005 Belgian representative | World Games, Duisburg (Germany)
  • 2008  participant | 10th International Aikido Congress, Tanabe (Japan)
  • 2011  "Athlete of the Year" award | Etterbeek Municipality
  • 2012-2023  Vice President | Technical Committee (previously Federal Grading Committee), AFA
  • 2014  TED speaker | TEDxUBIWiltz, Luxembourg (Luxembourg)
  • 2016  participant, one of the ukes in C. Tissier Shihan's embukai | 12th International Aikido Congress, Takasaki (Japan)
  • 2017  Sports Award | Etterbeek Municipality
  • 2019  Belgian representative,  "basic techniques" and "expert" categories, uke for J. Sugano Sensei in the "weapons" category, one of the ukes for C. Tissier Shihan in the "masters" category | World Martial Arts Masterships, Chungju (Korea)
  • 2023-present  President | Technical Committee, AFA
  • 2024  Belgian representative | 14th International Aikido Congress, Tokyo (Japan)
​Born in November 1973, Christophe Depaus started practicing aikido at the age of 11 at the private circle Yama Arashi, under the direction of Tony Thielemans. One year later, in 1986, he joined the Francophone Federation of Aikido (AFA, at the time ACBA) within the club "Le Chardon", with Luc Deweys and Chantal Danthine as teachers. Shortly his Aikikai Shodan, he joins the Shinbukan Aikidojo where he is taught by Marco Zenthner, Jacques Horny, and Henri Behr Jr. Christophe decides to follow Jacques Horny when he leaves the Shinbukan to found the Hikari Aikikai of Rebecq. He will be a student and teacher there for more than 10 years until the opening of the Ren Shin Kan (2006).
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After his studies as a civil mining engineer, which he will complete, while working as an expert in safety strategy for the deep disposal of high-level and/or long-lived radioactive waste, by studying pedagogy, philosophy of sciences (obtaining a doctorate in philosophy of science in 2023), and international nuclear law, he obtains his subsequent Aikikai grades by successive examinations under the supervision of Sugano Shihan. 
In August 2003, he passes in front of Sugano Shihan, the 1st level examination in "sabre – système IAS" (sword – IAS system), organized for the first time in Europe. As a guarantor of the teaching received from Sugano Shihan that he has at heart to transmit, he also obtains in 2008, the "Teacher certificate" officially authorizing him to pass on Sensei's teachings both with bare hands and with weapons. Only three teachers ever have received this distinction.

An assiduous student and Otomo of Sugano Shihan, whom he never missed any passage in Belgium and who he also followed in the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, France, Luxembourg, Sweden and the United States (New York Aikikai), he also discovers the teaching of Christian Tissier Shihan in 2000. He then decides to follow the two masters in parallel, considering their teachings extremely complementary. After Sugano Sensei's death in 2010, Christophe decided to consider Christian Tissier Sensei as his guide and referent. He now follows him in France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, and Luxembourg. In addition to these two great figures of aikido, Christophe has also practiced under the direction of most of the masters passing through our country, that he meets again with happiness each time he goes back to train at the Hombu dojo in Tokyo. Thus, he particularly appreciates Doshu, Kobayashi Shihan, Osawa Shihan, Miyamoto Shihan and Kuribayashi Shihan. During the year 2004, he spends one month in Japan to practice daily at the Aikikai of Tokyo, mainly under the direction of Doshu and the masters Miyamoto, Kobayashi and Seki. In 2008, he returns to Japan to train at the Hombu dojo and to participate in the 10th international congress. In 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2014, he returns to train at Hombu under the direction of the Doshu, Miyamoto Sensei, Osawa Sensei, Kobayashi Sensei and Kuribayashi Sensei. 

Christophe was a lecturer at ADEPS for the training of initiators and assistant instructors in aikido, before the recent reform of the system. He also wrote numerous articles in the Flash Aikido (the federation's magazine).
In addition to the private and federal seminars he regularly gives in Belgium, Christophe has given seminars in Spain (Vitoria), Portugal (Serpa), Greece (Athens) on the invitation of Sensei Harris Fytros, Italy (Sorrento, Salerno, Caserta) on the invitations of Senseis Angelo Armano and Alessio Autuori/Alessandra Scialla respectively, Switzerland (Basel) on the invitation of Nora Weller and Jan Sauermann, Austria (Graz) on the invitation of Rainer Loidl, and Tunisia (Tunis) on the invitation of Said Bouhachem.

Convinced that aikido is an excellent system of education, he has integrated the techniques of mental preparation with the practice of relaxation that he has been teaching voluntarily several times a year at the hospital (until 2009), to patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.
Eager to build bridges between artistic disciplines sharing common ideals, he joined from 2008 to 2013, the project "danza duende" as a guest teacher. There he led the so-called "duende warrior" workshops in collaboration with Ozan Aksoyek. Ozan sadly passed away, far too soon, on Thursday 7 December 2023.

Sébastien De Broyer
4th dan Aikikai

FUKUSHIDOIN
My martial path started as a child in the garden with my dad. A former aikidoka, he passed on to me his passion and the desire to start.
In September 2000, I started aikido at the Bushido Club Wezembeek under the teaching of Albert Polspoel. Since 2002, I wanted to deepen my practice by also attending classes in two other friendly clubs at Bushido Picardie and Bushido Roodebeek and this for several years. In order to enrich my aikido, I also started Iaido in 2003 at Meibukan. In 2007, I joined the Taikikai No Dojo to pursue the study of Iaido and to start Jodo. I had the opportunity to participate in several national and European Iaido championships. It is during these last ones that I presented my three Dan grades in Iaido.
Although I will follow the teaching of my first aikido teacher until his death in 2014, I discover, in parallel, in 2010, the dojo "Ren Shin Kan". I decide to continue my training there under the direction of Christophe Depaus.
Since 2014, I have become a full-time student of Ren Shin Kan.
  • 2006  Shodan Aikikai
  • 2013  Nidan Aikikai
  • 2017  Sandan Aikikai
  • 2023  Yondan Aikikai
  • 2010  Belgian demonstrator | Dojo-Cho Mitsuteru Ueshiba seminar embukai
  • 2022  Fukushidoin | AFA

Valentina Perazzini
4th dan Aikikai

FUKUSHIDOIN
At Ren Shin Kan dojo, I teach the children's section, and regularly teach beginner and advanced adults. In addition, in collaboration with master Christophe Depaus, I provide aikido-based body training to theater students at ARTS² in Mons.
I was born in Italy in 1987 and took up martial arts at the age of 11 with wushu kungfu. I practiced wushu for about five years, taking part in several competitions and winning a gold medal at the Italian kata championships in 2000. Then, tired of the idea of competition, I stopped wushu and discovered aikido at the age of 17 with Ugo Montevecchi Sensei. During my studies, I also practiced a few years in Bologna and Dublin.
In 2013, I moved to Brussels and started practicing at Ren Shin Kan dojo. It was here that I finally discovered the aikido that suits me best. Thanks to Christophe Depaus Sensei's teaching, I passed my shodan in 2014, my nidan in 2016, my sandan in 2019 and my yondan in 2024. Alongside aikido, I practiced Shotokan karate for three years to enrich my experience of traditional budos. 
Like any good budoka, I continue to train and educate myself by taking part in numerous seminars in Belgium and abroad (±100h/year) and, in particular, in Christian Tissier Shihan's seminars. It was master Christian Tissier who awarded me my fourth dan.
  • 2014  Shodan Aikikai
  • 2016  Nidan Aikikai
  • 2019  Sandan Aikikai
  • 2024  Yondan Aikikai | C. Tissier Shihan

Jean-Luc Golnez
3rd dan Aikikai

FUKUSHIDOIN
Born in 1975 in Vietnam, I started martial arts with Kalari Payat in Singapore, from the ages of 8 until 13, under the teaching of master Edwards.
I arrived in Belgium in 1993 to study pharmacy, and at the same time I started studying aikido at the Rem Aiiki dojo.
For several years, I was taught by Sugano Seiichi Shihan, 8th dan, taking part in his numerous seminars organized in Belgium.
Among the direct students of Sugano Shihan, I meet Christophe Depaus. When the Ren Shin Kan dojo opened in 2007, I naturally joined my tatami partner to bring my support in the dojo project, transmitted by our master.
In 2008, I participated in the 10th International Aikido Congress in Tanabe, Japan, the hometown of the founder, O'Sensei, and took the opportunity to practice at the Hombu Dojo (mother house) in Tokyo.
In my exploration of aikido, I am particularly fond of weapons work.
  • 2003  Shodan Aikikai
  • 2006  Nidan Aikikai | S. Sugano Shihan
  • 2013  Sandan Aikikai
  • 2008  participant | 10th International Aikido Congress, Tanabe (Japan)
  • 2015  Fukushidoin | AFA

Natalia Blanch
3rd dan Aikikai

 
I was born in 1971 in Córdoba, Argentina. I am married and I have two children.
I started practicing martial arts at the age of 18 with Taichi Chuan Yang style. A few years later I joined Quiroga Sifu’s kwon where I continued practicing Taichi and initiated the practice of Hung Gar style Kung Fu, which I studied for two years. In 1998 I left Argentina.
In 2003 I discovered aikido in Baltimore (USA) with Charlie Page Sensei, 7th dan, and Chuck Weber Sensei, 7th dan (Saotome Shihan lineage). I had the opportunity to participate in seminars led by Saotome Shihan.
From 2005 to 2008, in France, I joined the dojo of Laurent Boudet (student of Christian Tissier Shihan) and then the dojo of Alan Auffray and Cyrille Roy (in Grenoble).
Since 2009, I follow the teaching of Christophe Depaus Sensei, 6th dan Aikikai, student of Sugano Shihan and Christian Tissier Shihan, at Ren Shin Kan which allowed me to obtain the grades of shodan in 2013, nidan in 2016 and sandan in 2022. Thanks to the encouragement and example of Sensei, I participate in many seminars in Belgium and France. I am fortunate to have attended Sugano Shihan’s and Donovan Waite Sensei's seminars at Ren Shin Kan.
In addition to aikido, I have been practicing Soto Zen meditation since 2008. I took the nun's vows in 2018.
  • 2013  Shodan Aikikai
  • 2016  Nidan Aikikai
  • 2022  Sandan Aikikai

Ambre Guillot
2nd dan Aikikai

 
I started aikido at the age of 13 under the direction of Pascal Durchon (6th Dan) in the Paris region.
I arrived in Brussels in September 2020 to pursue my studies in architecture. A year later, in September 2021, I pushed open the doors of the "Ren Shin Kan" dojo, after the COVID crisis, when practice was once again possible.
I regularly attend the classes at the Dojo under Christophe Depaus. When I am available, I also help Valentina with the children's classes. I take part as much as possible in seminars, particularly those with Christian Tissier Shihan or other senseis, which are always very enriching.
  • 2020  Shodan Aikikai
  • 2023  Nidan Aikikai
  • 2023  French "young adult" representative | 60th All Japan Aikido Demonstration, Tokyo (Japan)
  • 2025  participant | 2nd IAF International Seminar for Young Adults, Tokyo (Japan)
Ren Shin Kan