Sensei Mark Pickering
7th Dan Shihan
Mark Pickering’s martial art journey began not with Aikido, but with Judo, laying the foundations of discipline and resilience from an early age. As he grew older, he stepped into the boxing ring, drawing heavily on the hard realities and lessons learned on the streets of Birmingham.
His path soon took him around the world, working as a bodyguard to celebrities and diplomats as with the British Special Forces. During this intense period of his life, Mark faced a defining moment when he was told “If you don’t sort yourself out, you will end up in prison”. That warning became a turning point.
In 1985, Mark discovered Aikido under the guidance of Sensei Tony Cassells, 6th Dan Shihan. What began as training soon became a life-changing discipline. Mark rapidly distinguished himself as one of Sensei Cassell’s most dedicated and capable students, and in 1988 he achieved the rank of 1st Dan and the title Sensei – marking the start of a new chapter devoted to mastery, harmony and the guidance of others.
Since that time, Sensei Pickering has travelled the world in pursuit of mastery, training under and attending courses led by some of Japan’s greatest Aikido masters. His leadership and depth of knowledge saw him appointed as Chairman of the British Birankai Teaching Committee and Technical Director for Austria.
Beyond titles, Sensei Pickering has forged enduring bonds of respect and friendship across the Aikido community – strengthening connections with associations throughout the UK, as well as France and Austria. Together with his students from Cocks Moors Woods Dojo, he regularly travels around the country and overseas to train, teach and share and courses and seminars continuing a tradition of learning without borders.
Four decades of unwavering dedication culminated in one of Aikido’s highest honors. Sensei Pickering was awarded 7th Dan by Hombu Dojo in Japan – a rare and deeply deserved recognition that reflects a lifetime of hard work, integrity and service to the art. It stands as a testament of why he is regarded as one of the most respected and admired Sensei’s in the worldwide Aikido community.
