Anita is one of many people whose life took a turn away from Aikido – in her case to raise her family – before finding her way back on to the mat. Since her return, Anita has trained at the Gravesend Ki Aikido Club and been a regular visitor to many other dojos in the southeast. At the tender age of 51, she toured many other clubs across Britain in the run-up to passing her 3rd Dan grading.
Buoyed by Anita’s enthusiasm, both her mother and her daughters have also trained – 3 generations from one family!
Anita opened up the Clacton Ki Aikido club earlier this year, and has an enthusiastic group of young people training with her.
When did you start Ki Aikido?
I started Ki Aikido in 1993.
What made you want to try aikido?
My boyfriend, at the time, encouraged me to go in the mat and have a go.
How did you feel stepping on the mat first the first time?
I felt very nervous and unsure what to expect. I had previously done Judo, and could not see how Aikido could be powerful if done softly and without physical aggression.
When did you get the “Aikido Bug”?
My boyfriend got the bug straight away, however I was a slow burner and didn’t become hooked on Aikido till I was a green belt.
Why do you think it took you till green belt to enjoy practicing Ki Aikido?
Mainly because I didn’t link how the practice of Ki in the first half of class then benefited the techniques we did in the second half. When the penny eventually dropped that if you combined the Ki and Aikido, it was totally dynamic, it blew my mind in a great way.
Have you practiced Ki Aikido consistently since 1993?
I trained from 1993 till 2002. In 2000 I got my 2nd dan, but in 2003 I moved to Spain and extended my family.
When and why did you return to Ki Aikido?
I returned to Ki Aikido in 2020. I had 6 children and they were growing up which allowed me the opportunity to take some time to train again.
What do you enjoy most about practice?
I enjoy learning the different techniques whilst being part of the Ki Federation Aikido family again.
How do you benefit from Ki Aikido off of the mat?
Practising Ki Aikido helps me feel grounded, calmer and positive off of the mat.
Describe Aikido in 3 words
Grounding – Uplifting – Dynamic
What is your favourite exercise/technique?
My favourite exercise is Ki Breathing and my favourite technique is Nikkyo.
What is the greatest lesson Ki Aikido has taught you?
The greatest lesson Aikido has taught me is to never give up on your goals. Extending my mind with perseverance, consistency and effort helped make my dreams come true when I recently passed my 3rd Dan.
What advice do you have for anyone thinking about trying Aikido?
Give it a go, stick with it for a while and see if you too get the “Aikido Bug”.
Anita Edridge
Clacton Ki Aikido Club