There are a number of things that happen before a journey starts. As a new student you naturally will have questions and concerns.
Welcome to your first step of a long and rewarding journey. Beginners are welcome to observe any regular class. In a regular class a beginner may be paired with an advanced student, and will work on the same techniques separately from the class (though on the same mat), until learning some fundamentals, such as simple falls and rolls. Check with the dojo you visit on how to start your training.
The dojo has a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. However, it is also a place of serious study, mindful of the martial arts tradition and purpose. The emphasis is on personal development and understanding, not on following a rigorous set of forms or memorizing complex kata. The training can be physically challenging, but is not necessarily so. Students work at their own level of physical ability and stamina, relaxing when necessary, challenging themselves when appropriate. Students are not goaded into pushing themselves to the extremes of their ability. Rather, students are asked to try to integrate their energy into the class. The result is a feeling of enjoyment and relaxation with alertness and clarity by the end of class.
The entire dojo trains together in each class. There is no segregation by rank during practice: Beginning, intermediate and advanced students all practice together freely. The instructor gives individual attention to students throughout class.
The emphasis is on controlling a physical encounter from the beginning through timing and motion, rather than by subduing an opponent by sheer force or speed. Proper breathing and posture are also important. There are some breathing exercises during class.
Students are free to practice together after class, and help is always available from senior students. The dojo has many Black Belts (Yudansha), so abundant help is always available.
What is Aikido? Aikido is a non-competitive martial art from Japan that emphasizes mind/body integration. Learn more by clicking on the About Aikido button.
Who can study Aikido? Men and women of all ages can study Aikido, regardless of physical skill or previous experience in athletics or other martial arts. Training is always self-paced, and for the most part all ranks train together, with the more experienced Aikidoists helping the newer students.
Why do people study Aikido? Aikido is never competitive, so the training is purely for personal development. Aikido is vigorous, weight-bearing exercise that improves your strength, coordination, balance and your overall health. The training also helps you develop alertness and a calm mind. Most people find that regular training reduces stress levels significantly. The most important reason to study Aikido, however, is to enjoy it!
How do you begin? Just come by and join a class. We also offer classes especially for beginners. In the regular classes senior students give you individual help with the basics and work with you until you feel comfortable enough to train with the other students. To sign up just arrive at the dojo about 15 minutes early to introduce yourself and sign a waiver. Wear comfortable, loose clothing, or a gi if you have one. You are welcome to observe classes and talk with the instructor and other students before you decide to join.
If you're interested in starting Aikido or continuing to learn in a different environment you can start by calling this number 01827 716100 or 07831 200540 and ask for Adrian.
Or you can find out about our classes here About Us Classes
The following terms are commonly used in Aikido training, and in the standard techniques tested during Aikikai examinations for a higher rank.
The names of Aikido techniques (waza) consist of two parts :-
Examples: mune tsuki + ikkyo, katate tori + shiho nage, shomen uchi + irimi nage.
Thus the first two parts of the table are Attacks and Throws. Any attack combines with any throw to become a waza: For example, a partner can attack with mune tsuki and be thrown with ikkyo, shiho nage, kote gaeshi, irimi nage or one of many kokyu nage.
Attacks | ||
Aikido term | Definition | Examples or Description |
---|---|---|
hanmi handachi | half sitting, half standing | Standing uke attacks seated nage |
kata tori | shoulder grab | kata tori ikkyo, ushiro kata tori sankyo |
katate tori | one hand grab (same side, as in left hand grabs partner's right wrist) | katate tori shiho nage |
katate kosa tori | one hand grab (opposite side) As in, left hand grab of partner's left wrist. | katate kosa tori ikkyo |
katate (tori) ryotemochi [morote tori] | attacker grabs one wrist with both hands | katate tori ryote mochi kokyu nage |
mune tsuki | punch or thrust to the chest | mune tsuki kotegaeshi |
ryote tori | both hands grabbed | ryote tori tenchi nage |
shomen uchi | direct strike to the face or front of the head | shomen uchi ikkyo |
ushiro (ryo) kata tori | grab (both) shoulder(s) from behind | ushiro kata tori sankyo |
ushiro tekubi / hiji / kata tori | grab wrists / elbows / shoulders from behind | ushiro tekubi tori kotegaeshi, ushiro hiji tori, ushiro kata tori |
yokomen uchi | strike to the side of the face or head | yokomen uchi shiho nage |
Throws | ||
Aikido term | Definition | Examples or Description |
---|---|---|
ikkyo [ude osae] (omote and ura) | first formthrow | Basic pin of the opponent's arm |
nikyo [kote mawashi] (omote and ura) | sceond formthrow | Turning of the wrist (forearm) pin |
sankyo [kote hineri] (omote and ura) | third formthrow | Twisiting of the wrist (forearm) pin |
yonkyo [tekubi osae] (omote and ura) | fourth formthrow | Wrist pressure pin |
gokyo (omote and ura) | fifth formthrow | Pin usually used against knife attacks |
irimi nage | enteringthrow | Throw by sliding past the opponent's line of attack, letting his momenum pass |
jo nage (or tori) | Throwing with, or taking away, the jo | set of throwing techniques with a wooden staff |
jiyu waza | freestyle techniques | Basic: perform any throw against ryotetori (both hands grasped) attack |
toshu henka waza | changestyle/form techniques | Any throw against any attack |
kaeshi waza | reversalthrow | Techniques for counteringnage's throw |
kaiten nage (omote and ura) | revolutionthrow | Turn of the wheel revolution, not the overthrowing of governments kind |
kokyu nage | breath throw | Throws relying on timing, body movement and attacker's speed, and strength, rather than joint locks |
kote gaeshi | Turing in of the wrist (reversing the wrist) | Similar to a nikyo pin, but used to throw |
randori | attack by multiple (usually 4) uke | lit. passing through chaosFree techniques against multiple opponents |
shiho nage(omote and ura) | four directions throw | |
sumi otoshi (omote and ura) | cornerthrow | |
tachi (bokken) tori | sword waza deal with (wooden) sword attacks | |
tanto tori | knife waza | deal with (wooden) knife attacks |
suwari waza | seated techniques | actually techniques executed while kneeling |
tenchi nage ( omote and ura ) | heaven-earth throw | One hand goes up, the other comes down (from ryote tori) |
Exercises | ||
Aikido term | Definition | Examples or Description |
---|---|---|
fune kogi undo | rowing exercise | |
hojo walk | posture, moving, and breathing exercise during warmups | |
kokyu ho | breath exercise | done in a kneeling position (seiza) at the end of every class |
misogi (okinaga) | purification breathing | done at the end of every class |
shikko | samurai (knee) walking | preparation for suwari waza |
Other Japanese Words & Phrases | ||
Aikido term | Definition | Examples or Description |
---|---|---|
ashi hakobi | move the feet | martial way of walking by sliding the feet rather than stepping |
bokken | wooden sword | tachi, generic name for a (real) sword |
hara | center of the body, just below the navel | |
hanmi | half-stance | lit., half body, as in facing forward with left or right foot forward, in left or right hanmi, respectively |
hantai | opposite, other side | |
jo | wooden staff | originally a thrusting spear |
kaiten | pivot 180º in place | turn 180º without moving feet |
kamae | stance | formal posture for attacking or awaiting attack |
kokyu | breath or breathing | kokyu nage, kokyu ho |
kote | wrist / lower arm | lit. small hand |
kyu & dan | rank, level or grade in martial arts: | kyu - colored belts, 6th or 5th through 1st kyu (descending) dan - black belts, shodan (1st),nidan (2nd), sandan (3rd),yondan (4th), godan (5th), etc. through 10th dan (ascending) |
ma'ai | interval | proper distance between nageand uke for attack and defense |
men | face or head | |
metsuke | Eye line | Keep head erect and focus eyes on the middle distance |
mochi | hold, have | ryote mochi: hold with both hands |
nage | throw or person throwing (the latter also called tori, or taker) | shiho nage, irimi nage |
onegai | shimasu | please as in, please work (train) with me |
omote | front entry | shiho nage, omote |
ryo | both | ryote tori, ryote mochi |
sabaki | body movement | |
seiza | formal Japanese sitting, on the knees | |
sensei | teacher | Head instructor is Sensei; all other instructors are only addressed as Sensei when they are teaching and on the mat |
tanto | knife, lit. short sword | tanto tori waza deal with knife attacks |
te | hand | |
tekubi | wrist | lit. neck of the hand |
tenkan | turn | pivot (kaiten) and step back |
tori | take, grasp (also person performing the throw) | katate tori, ryote tori |
uchi | strike | shomen uchi, yokomen uchi attacks |
uke | receiver, i.e. person being thrown, the attacker or striker (from utsu - to strike (also uchi, ukemi)) | |
ukemi | the art of attacking, following and taking the fall | Partner's ukemi is good; we have to work on our ukemi |
ura, ushiro | entry to the back | ikkyo ura, ushiro tekubi tori |
waza | technique | |
zanshin | connection | maintain zanshin with your partner throughout the waza or training session |