Aikido has the benefits of good martial arts training: good physical conditioning and the

generation of relaxed confidence, energy, tenacity, open mindedness, politeness,

consideration, responsibility – all qualities of character to be carried into one’s daily life.

Moreover your skill in many of the performing arts and regular sports will be greatly

benefited by martial arts training in general and Aikido in particular.

Aikido also engenders an attitude of cooperation beyond the usual camaraderie of training with  others, given its high ethical basis in protecting from harm both the attacker as well as the attacked. As a result children and adults learn to respond to situations (and not only those of self-defense!) with compassion, decisiveness and appropriate force. We aim to better society one person at a time, striving every day to be better spouses, parents, sons or daughters, siblings, workers, citizens.

No amount of skill in technical “moves” is of any use if one is in the grip of emotions like

anger or fear. This is why real martial arts training concentrates on inner transformation

and the building of character and courage. In Aikido confidence comes from knowing one can completely neutralize an attack without  excessive force, while maintaining a

peaceful and therefore effective mind. One can be much smaller, slower or weaker than a dangerous adversary and yet be effective. Practitioners find that it is safer to escape

from holds and to execute throws, strikes, sweeps and pins by working in balance with

the attacker’s intention and energy rather than by attempting to fight against them.

We also practice a significant amount of hand-held weapons training that, by intensifying the experience of the principles of Aikido, can be valuable for staying cool and skilful in a self-defence or other stressful situation.