Sensei Pete Bailie is often found at the headquarters reception desk, welcoming members to the day’s course. He travels down from Bristol to do so, where he is teacher at the Bristol Redland Ki Aikido club. He has been teaching for 17 years, and was awarded his 7th last year. Sensei Pete has made an…
Sensei Ben Docherty started young, and set up the Edinburgh Ki Aikido club 10 years ago. At 33 years old, he’s probably the youngest 5th Dan in the federation. When did you start Ki Aikido? I started Ki Aikido in 1999 when I was 7 years old. What made you want to try Ki Aikido? My…
Great Saturday at the group course this weekend and another full car park! Students enjoyed instruction from Sensei O’Connell as they covered a range of weapons exercises through Jo, Bokken and Tanto. Thanks as always to Pete Bailie for his continuous behind the scenes work to make these days possible. Congratulations to Toby and Chris…
Anusuya recently passed her First Dan grading at the Autumn Seminar. There was a striking calmness and clarity to her movement that prompted us to ask about her experience of studying Aikido at the Epsom Ki Aikido club. When did you start Ki Aikido? I started Ki Aikido as a Junior at 12 years old.…
Sensei Alan Johnston of the Gravesend club has been practising for over 50 years, and teaching for 30 years of that. Sensei Alan Johnston of Gravesend Ki Aikido Club. When did you start Ki Aikido? I started Ki Aikido as a Youth in 1974 when I was 14, at the East Kilbride club in Scotland under…
Sensei Gurinder Singh, teacher at the Epsom Ki Aikido club, has recently taken on the role of grading officer for Kyu gradings. He brings a kindness to the gradings that ensures the grading applicants are able to drop their nerves and perform at their best. When did you start Ki Aikido? I started Ki Aikido…
Many thanks to Sensei Mark Greenley of the Muswell Hill club for coming to teach our area course last weekend – he always comes with a friendly and approachable style and a bag of new things to teach us. We had a good turnout, with just under 30 people on the mat, and everyone thoroughly…
So why Aikido? It was March 1996 and I was fast approaching 30, my football legs were already ageing and I was contemplating what I could do instead. Around that time a friend suggested going to the cinema to watch a film called Nico starring Steven Seagal. I was impressed with what I saw and…
Sensei Ford’s funeral will take place on Wednesday 12th of November at 4pm. The service will take place at: The Gwent Crematorium, Herbert Road, Croesyceiliog, Cwmbran, Torfaen, NP44 2BZ. The service will be for 1 hour, there will be military colours and a bugler present. The wake will follow afterwards at the Greenmeadow Golf Club, (next…
I started Aikido on 5th March 1998 at Brixton Ki Aikido club with Sensei Ros Davies. As a young adult I was looking for something but did not know what. I tried Tai Chi, Capoeira, and Tomiki Aikido. Every time I went on the mat, I was completely overwhelmed and over-powered by the other students,…
