Ron Russell started his training in the martial arts in 1963 at the Abbe School for Judo in England under the instruction of Kenshiro Abbe. He received his 1st Dan in Judo in 1966. During his Judo career Ron represented England in competition.

Kenshiro Abbe also taught Kendo, Karate, and Aikido and in 1968 Ron gave up contest Judo to study Aikido. It was a study to which he would dedicate the remainder of his life.

Ron trained at "The Hut" dojo in London, the main branch of the Institute of Aikido in Great Britain, predominantly under Sensei Hadyn Foster. He also had the opportunity to train with Japanese teachers in Europe such as Sensei Tamura, Sensei Nakazono, Sensei Noro, and Sensei Chiba.

Ron received his 1st Dan in Aikido in 1971. He was subsequently promoted to 2nd Dan in 1975, 3rd Dan in 1979, 4th Dan in 1986 and 5th Dan in 1992.

Ron immigrated to New Zealand in 1978 and began teaching at a club in Onehunga which eventually became the Institute of Aikido (affiliated to the British Institute of Aikido). During the 1980's Ron had several clubs in New Zealand that followed his style of Aikido which he began to call Kyu Shin Do. The name of the style harked back to his first teacher in the martial arts, Kenshiro Abbe, who called his style of Budo Kyu Shin Do.

In early 1991 Ron returned to England to live, and trained with his old club in London where he held the senior post of Assistant Technical Director in the Institute of Aikido. It was during this period he was promoted to 5th Dan.

In August 1993 Ron returned to New Zealand, having missed the pleasant climate and relaxed lifestyle. He soon started teaching regularly at a number of different clubs around Auckland as well as at Kyu Shin Do (North Shore), and leading seminars and weekend training sessions in Hamilton, Rotorua, Christchurch, and Whitianga.

Ron died suddenly of a heart attack on Friday the 25th of March 1994.