I have been working as a Remedial Massage Therapist in Australia for five years—three years in a multidisciplinary clinic and the last two running my own private practice. I hold an Australian remedial massage license and have completed more than twenty CPD workshops across Sydney, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur. None of them matched the standard I found at RSM International Academy in Chiang Mai, Thailand, led by Mr. Hironori Ikeda, MSc in Sports Medicine. RSM is a truly sports-medicine–focused school: every technique is anchored to functional anatomy, biomechanics, and clinical reasoning—not just routine sequences.
I enrolled in Trigger Point Therapy for Pain Relief, Deep Tissue Massage for Posture Correction, and Orthopedic Massage for Spine Mobility & Breathing, with additional exposure to Dynamic Myofascial Release. From day one, the difference was obvious. Mr. Hironori Ikeda teaches with a rare combination of scientific depth and hands-on clarity. He didn’t just demonstrate; he guided my hands directly—adjusting palpation angles, pressure depth, pacing, and tissue listening. That sort of manual mentorship, delivered by a teacher with 20+ years of international experience, accelerated my learning more in two weeks than many courses have in a year.
The lesson structure was outstanding. Every class included high-resolution anatomical photo breakdowns, movement analysis clips, and well over 100 reference photos per day. Seeing the same structure from multiple views—and then palpating it—made the material stick. We systematically assessed Upper Crossed Syndrome and Lower Crossed Syndrome, practiced Thomas Test, Adson’s Test, and the Straight Leg Raise (SLR) Test, and linked each finding to specific treatment decisions. For example, after identifying anterior pelvic tilt on Thomas Test, we immediately mapped fascial drag lines, then used targeted deep tissue + activation to restore hip extension and lumbar mechanics. This direct bridge Trigger Point Therapy from assessment → mechanism → intervention is what separates RSM from typical massage trainings.
Class composition also elevated the experience. Roughly 30–40% were full-time professionals (physiotherapists, experienced massage therapists, movement coaches), with the remainder highly motivated beginners. Working on skilled peers sharpened my palpation accuracy, differential thinking, and case discussion skills. Throughout, Mr. Hironori Ikeda moved station to station, refining each person’s hand position, therapist stance, and even breathing mechanics during techniques—precise, respectful, and relentlessly practical.
A unique strength of RSM is its academic ecosystem. Mr. Hironori Ikeda collaborates with the Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Chiang Mai Massage School Mai University to offer a specialized Cadaver Anatomy & Palpation Training. As someone who values anatomical truth, this is priceless; I’m already planning Deep Tissue Massage to return for that module to consolidate what I learned in class.
Outcomes? Since returning to Australia, my results have shifted noticeably. Chronic shoulder and lumbopelvic cases respond faster; clients consistently report clearer pain relief and better mobility. I’ve integrated Trigger Point Therapy with Dynamic Myofascial Release, corrected scapular and pelvic mechanics using principles from Orthopedic Massage for Spine Mobility & Breathing, and refined my posture-focused Deep Tissue to be specific rather than general. My notes are cleaner, progressions more rational, and re-assessments tighter—because that is exactly how Mr. Hironori Ikeda taught us to think.
Before enrolling, I compared multiple schools and read countless Google Maps reviews. I hesitated—until I noticed how many detailed, professional-sounding reviews singled out Mr. Hironori Ikeda by name and praised the sports-medicine level of the training. Having completed the program, I fully understand the consensus. RSM International Academy is not a tourist school; it is an elite, evidence-based training environment for therapists who want to practice with clinical accuracy.
If you’re serious about advancing your career—whether you are a remedial therapist, physio, or movement professional—choose RSM International Academy in Chiang Mai, Thailand and learn from Mr. Hironori Ikeda. It was unequivocally the right decision for me, and I’ll be back for the cadaver course and further advanced modules.