The founder and Head Instructor of Goryukai Yoshinkan Aikido is Malcolm Crawford Sensei 6th Dan Yoshinkan Aikido. Crawford Sensei's Dojo is based at the Goryukan Chichester. With Crawford Sensei Goryukai Yoshinkan Aikido has a direct link to the Honbu Dojo Japan (Yoshinkan headquarters).Via the International Yoshinkai Aikido Federation.

Crawford Sensei started training with the Yoshinkan in 1970 under Edd Stratton. In 1974 the Honbu Dojo sent their own instructor to England, this was the formidable Yu Sensei. Crawford Sensei trained 5 days a week and all day Sunday at the time this was expected of all Yoshinkan Aikidoka. Self Defence Training as taught to the Japanese riot police was part of the curriculum (Now only practiced in Japan on instructors courses). Over his 37 years with Yoshinkan, Crawford Sensei has trained Longer than some of the honbu Instructors but also trained with all of the senior Honbu instructors and by Kancho Sensei himself. (Gozo Shioda). Crawford Sensei has taught at many national and international seminars and was promoted to Godan by the chief technical director of the Yoshinkan Honbu Chida Sensei 8th Dan, and now has been promoted to 6th Dan by Y Shioda Kancho.