Spartanburg Dojo

Spartanburg, SC Dojo

Chief Instructor

Sensei John Wyndham, owner and chief instructor, has more than 23 years of experience in self-defense training and instruction in the martial arts. He currently holds the rank of San-Dan (Third Degree Black Belt) in the art of Nihon Goshin Aikido (Japanese Self-Defense Aikido). He received his initial and finest training from Sensei Steven A. Weber in Nihon Goshin Aikido and has pursued additional training in Karate, Judo, Jiu-Jitsu, Aiki Jiu-Jitsu, and Hombu Aikido (Ueshiba style). To further his understanding and abilities in the martial arts, Sensei Wyndham has also studied the arts of Filipino Escrima (Kali and Arnis), Ryu Te Kempo, Tai Chi, and European Fencing. Mr. Wyndham is Sensei Weber's senior student in the southeastern United States and continues to train with Mr. Weber in advanced defensive tactics.

Mr. Wyndham is a native of South Carolina and a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Pharmacy. He is a registered pharmacist, practicing in the Upstate (since 1982), and a life member of the National Registry of Who's Who. During his extensive career as an instructor, he has instructed numerous law enforcement professionals from the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Department, the Spartanburg County Solicitor's Office, the Spartanburg County Detention Center, the Greenville County Sheriff's Department and the Cherokee County Sheriff's Department. Some of his dedicated students have gone on to join the FBI, US Marshal Service, US Marines, US Army, and most recently the Federal Air Marshal program.

Sensei Wyndham also provides martial arts and self-defense programs for educational facilities such as the University of South Carolina Upstate, Wofford College, Oakbrook Preparatory School, Spartanburg Day School, and numerous Upstate SC school districts. Mr. Wyndham continues to conduct self-defense classes and courses for numerous women's groups, after school programs, church groups, and civic organizations. He has also provided courses and demonstrations for numerous corporations such as Milliken and BMW, to name a couple. Sensei Wyndham has also been featured on WSPA Channel 7, WYFF Channel 4, and the Peggy Denny Show on WGGS Channel 16 (Charter cable Channel 6) giving practical self-defense advice, techniques and tips.

In January, 1995; after Mr. Weber had moved to his New Port Richey, Florida location, Mr. Wyndham assumed responsibility for the Spartanburg Academy. Sensei Wyndham is the senior representative of the Nihon Goshin Aikido Association in the Southeastern United States and his dojo is the only academy authorized by the Nihon Goshin Aikido Association to teach the art in the Upstate/Greenville-Spartanburg, SC metropolitan area. His dojo also serves the outlying areas of the upstate of South Carolina and southwestern North Carolina with students coming from as far away as Charlotte, NC, Hendersonville, NC, Anderson, SC and Clinton, SC to train with him.

Mr. Wyndham is a passionate advocate for effective martial arts training and personal self-defense education. He is a husband and a father and has been an upstanding member of the Spartanburg, SC community for over 24 years. In addition to his dynamic and exciting teaching style, Mr. Wyndham emphasizes values such as honor, loyalty, respect, hard work, self-control and fair play in his teaching methods.