Description
Australian aikido teacher (8th dan Aikikai, shihan) and artist, president of
Aiki Kai Australia and member of the International Aikido Federation Senior
Council. He began aikido in 1964 and was a lifelong student of Seiichi Sugano
from 1965 until Sugano's death in 2010. He was awarded the 8th dan at the
Kagami Biraki in January 2025.
Teachers (1)
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Sugano Seiichi
(1965-2010)
expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources
fact_check
Tony Smibert was a student of Seiichi Sugano from Sugano's arrival in
Australia in 1965 until Sugano's death in 2010, documented by Wikipedia and
the Guillaume Erard interview
"He became a student of aikido master Seiichi Sugano in 1965 and remained
his student until Sugano's death in 2010."
— Wikipedia contributors. Tony Smibert - Wikipedia
(English). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo
"Then I was with him as his senior student from then on until he passed
away ... I was in the room as he passed away."
— Guillaume Erard. (2026). Interview with Tony
Smibert - Mastery via stewardship, not ownership
linkinfo
Ranks (1)
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Dan-Kyu System (2025-01)
expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
3 sources
fact_check
Aiki Kai Australia news and the Guillaume Erard interview both record that
Smibert was one of ten senior instructors awarded the 8th dan by the Doshu at
the Kagami Biraki in January 2025; Wikipedia also lists him as 8th dan Aikikai
"Tony Smibert Shihan was one of ten senior Aikido instructors awarded the
8th dan by Doshu during the Kagami biraki, held at the Aiki Kai Foundation in
January 2025."
— Aiki Kai Australia. (2025). Tony Smibert Shihan
Promoted to Hachidan (8th) Danlinkinfo
"Tony Smibert receiving the 8th dan from Doshu and Dojo-cho during the
Kagamibiraki 2025"
— Guillaume Erard. (2026). Interview with Tony
Smibert - Mastery via stewardship, not ownership
linkinfo
"Smibert currently holds the rank of 8th dan Aikikai and the teaching title
of shihan from Aikido World Headquarters in Japan."
— Wikipedia contributors. Tony Smibert - Wikipedia
(English). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo
Students (1)
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Tristão da Cunha
(1980-1981)
expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source
fact_check
Tristão da Cunha states he began aikido practice in 1980 or 81 at his university
in Melbourne, first under Tony Smibert (4th dan Aikikai)
"Iniciei a minha prática de Aikido em 1980 ou 81, já não me recordo
precisamente, em Melbourne, Austrália, na Universidade onde estudava. O meu
primeiro professor chamava-se Tony Smibert que era 4º Dan de Aikido,
Aikikai."
— Pedro Escudeiro. (2000). Entrevista ao Professor
Tristão da Cunha (Pedro Escudeiro, 2000). Surya (Centro de Artes Orientais)
linkhistoryinfo
Honors (2)
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descriptionMember of the Order of Australia
3
Other (2016-06)
expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source
fact_check
Appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the Queen's Birthday
Honours of June 2016 for service to aikido and to the visual arts, per the
Wikipedia article
"In the Queen's Birthday Honours in June 2016, Smibert was appointed a
Member of the Order of Australia (AM) 'for significant service to aikido
through a range of roles, and to the visual arts as a painter and water
colourist'."
— Wikipedia contributors. Tony Smibert - Wikipedia
(English). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo
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Title
expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source
fact_check
The shihan teaching title from Aikido World Headquarters is stated in the
Wikipedia article without a specific award date
"Smibert currently holds the rank of 8th dan Aikikai and the teaching title
of shihan from Aikido World Headquarters in Japan."
— Wikipedia contributors. Tony Smibert - Wikipedia
(English). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo
Linked data
https://martial.is/entity/01KZ3V4FBA537EFZ5MYMZCHQ6Y