When your parents meet while living and training at a dojo in Japan, there’s a good chance Aikido will be a large influence on your family.

Growing up in the Kapiti Coast, Sapphira’s parents Mike Murray and Renae Murray were her Sensei’s. 

Aikido classes started at age 5, but Sapphira started to take training more seriously at age 11 when other teen girls joined the dojo. Auckland Sensei Alan Roberts has also had a big influence on her learning.

Seminars in China (2017), Reno (2012), along with workshops in Auckland, Christchurch and Kapiti dojos have all added experiences.

Sapphira hopes to inspire others to find their passion through aikido training and opened her own Palmerston North dojo in May 2021.