The women who shaped this path

Sara wishes to honour the extraordinary women in aikido who have shaped her journey, named here in the order their paths first crossed.

Vanda Fairchild

The first female instructor Sara ever met. A brilliant teacher and fierce, skilful randori player — her friendship has been one of the great gifts of Sara’s aikido life.

Nicole Anson

A phenomenal aikidoka and equally phenomenal friend, whose aikido, weapon work, and dedication to refereeing and judging have inspired Sara for years.

Imogen Burman

A training partner, teacher and friend who pushed her own body to its limits to help Sara reach her 2nd Dan.

Nili Roberts

Sara’s guardian angel in Japan, who taught and supported her — and even offered to uke for her in the match that earned Sara’s only world-championship medal.

Marie Louise Parkin

Sara has been blessed to get to know Louise, whose calmness, wisdom and thoughtful advice have been a steadying, uplifting force.

Céline Pagnier

A course companion and later teacher whose enthusiasm and professionalism deeply impressed Sara — her teaching style closely mirrors how Sara teaches mathematics.

Pam Dempsey

Runs Dublin Tomiki Aikido with Keith with exceptional dedication; their thriving club, especially its popular children’s classes, is recognised by this Fund.

First grantees

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Support for Single Mothers Bursary — £4,000 toward a visit to Osaka Honbu Dojo

Carol

The first beneficiary of the Support for Single Mothers bursary, awarded toward a visit to Osaka Honbu Dojo for herself and her daughter. Carol trains at Sussex Aikido, where Sara often visits. A determined competitor since her earliest days, she went on to join the Shodokan squad that travelled to Japan in the early 2000s. After her daughter Annabelle was born with significant learning disabilities, Carol became a single parent — yet kept training regularly, often travelling up to an hour to reach the dojo, and has steadily earned her way to a very tidy Yondan (4th Dan). She now coaches regularly at Sussex Aikido.

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Orange Belt to Shodan Development Bursary — £700

Mai Vu

The first scholarship awarded under the Orange Belt to Shodan Development Bursary, in recognition of Mai’s commitment to aikido as a stalwart member of the Greenwich club. The award supports her travel costs to training and to seminars in the UK and abroad.

Share your story

If Shodokan Aikido or this Fund has shaped your path, we’d love to hear it — and, with your permission, share it to bring other women here too.

The Kovacs Middleton Fund