We will be running an introductory course from the 21s January for six weeks. The course will cover some the basic concept of Aikido and would be appropriate for complete beginners or for somebody who would like to get back to practise after some time away.

The course will take place at our City dojo at cost £8.00 a sessoin.

If you would like to come along, please use the contact form below to register your interest.

Doshu Yoshigasaki has written an article on Japanese Philosophy which is published on the British Ki Society website.

There are several other articles that Doshu has written over the years on the website which covers lots of area concerning Aikido. They can be found here.

Here is a video of Dr David Shaner of the Ki Society HQ giving a presentation on mind and body unification at a TEDx Talk.

He explains how this principle can help you get un-stuck and where it can be applied to your daily life, business or sport.

Mind and Body Unification is a central pillar to our practise and is taught explicitly in our classes. In fact, progression through the AIkido grades is only possible where students can demonstrate an understanding of this concept.

Michael Holm from the Glaxdale Aikido Club has genrously shared his Shodan (First Degree Black Belt grading) from 1993.

What is most striking is not only how much thinner everybody looked back then:-) but also the familiarily of the techniques. Of course there has been evolution in twenty years where flaws have been addressed but everything is still very recognisable.

A grading is an opportunity to demonstrate classical technique. It is impossible to train precisely for a real situation as there are so many unknowns. The only thing we can realistically do is to build a framework of principles by studying the martial possibilities of a technique. We must be honest and acknowledge that what we practise in the dojo has to change in a real situation. It is the responsibility of each individual to adapt the technique to their particular scenario. This is really the only way for your practise not to degenerate into a fantasy.

A particular enjoyable part of the video is the Yonnigake (four man attack) at the end of the grading. One criticism often cited of Aikido is that the techniques are choreographed. The four man attack, which is a common feature of advanced Aikido gradings, is a simultaneous attack by four individuals where any attack is possible. This is very different to being attacked by four people in sequence as is often seen in the cinema. Here the aim is for the four attackers to coordinate and take advantage of their superior numbers to rush and try to hold the Aikido practitioner down.

The best strategy is not to run, or think of just surviving the ordeal. Instead it is better to try to take control and create a situation where the four attackers and the person being attacked are moving harmoniously.

Sensei Holm will be teaching in Sweden this weekend giving a seminar in Västerås.

Here is a recording of Doshu Yoshigasaki teaching in Denmark last September. Here he highlights aspects of Tsuzukiwaza No 16 and No 23 amongst other things.

Thanks to Michael and the Gladsaxe Aikido Dojo for making this extract public.

We will be running a six week introductory course starting on Wednesday 17th September 2014 at our dojo in the City. The course will cover  some of the basic concepts of our practise and would be suitable for complete beginners or those, who for whatever reason, have not practised for a while and would like to start again.

It would be good if students commit to the full course. It is difficult to appreciate Aikido unless you have learnt how to receive a technique. We will be building up this skill, of taking ukemi, as the course progresses. A cursory glance at Aikido, to somebody who is not familiar with martial arts, probably won’t let them appreciate the dynamism and subtleties of the art.

Each session will cost £8.00 and will run from 6:30pm – 8:00pm.  You will only need to come along with some loose clothing to practise.

If you want more information or would like to come along just fill in the form below.

Here is an interview where Doshu Yoshigasaki talks about the origins of Aikido and why we need a mathematics of line for the Art to evolve.

The interview was conducted in Florence last year where he will be conducting a seminar in October to commemorate his 35^th year of teaching in Europe.

Radek, Rekha and Jayesh have just returned from a six day seminar in Denmark. We trained together with students from 13 countries in a Store Heddinge. Along with the training we also managed some time for some swimming, dancing,  exploring and a little bit of partying.

During the seminar Doshu Yoshigasaki, using  his background in science,   de-mystified  many aspects of our practice which seem  counter intuitive to an on-looker.  He used his scientific and mathematical rigour to give rational explanations of how Aikido actually works. Perhaps it is Doshu’s rejection of a supernatural argument that make his approach so successful.

Thanks to Michael and the Gladsaxe Ki Aikido club for being so welcoming and organising an excellent seminar.

Doshu Yoshigasaki teaches throughout the year including several international training camps in different countries.

Last Saturday we gave a short demonstration at Longfield School along with other clubs from the Harrow Martial Arts Centre

We covered  various aspects of our practise, starting with some children demonstrating how to protect themselves with weapons. They then continued to show some Aikido techniques, first with each other and then against adults. This all culminated with a multiple attack where an eight year old child successfully protecting himself against three adults. We were able to show that AIkido is not dependent on gender, size or age and can be used by anybody for their protection.

We  continued with a range of techniques  showing how Aikido deals with a variety of attacks. This was followed by a few techniques demonstrated by a female member of the club againsts a much larger male. We also showed how with Aikido, you can protect  yourself against an attacker with a weapon and against a multiple attack.

I gave a  demonstration of mind and body unification. At first glance Aikido techniques can seem deceptively soft and relaxed.  I gave a few examples on how a calm confident posture can overcome an aggressive force.

We really enjoyed demonstrating our art to the school and look forward to another opportunity to show how  Aikido works are in a real situation.

More photographs from the demonstration can be found on our Facebook Page.

Here is a video of some of our European instructors describing what Aikido is to them. We have several clubs all over Europe. Here is a list of some of them. There are several seminars across the continent in the coming months which are listed here.