When I started university in 1986 I saw an advert for Ki-Aikido at Meadowbank Sports Centre and decided to give it a go. The club was run by a Sensei Peaston who was a wiry,…
I used to practice Ki Aikido, I enjoyed practising at Headquarters to meet and practise with members from other clubs. I loved learning new techniques and getting guidance from the Senseis teaching the classes to…
One of the hottest summer schools I can remember, but that didn’t slow us down! Students travelled from Canada, France, and across the UK to Somerset for 5 days’ training, and two grading sessions. And…
On 4 July 2026, I attended a special no-fall course at the Ki Federation Headquarters, not quite knowing what to expect. It turned out to be a quietly powerful session: gentle in pace, but rich…
Etiquette is the label we give to behaviours and rules that are not part of our culture – fine-dining etiquette, meeting-the-royals etiquette, Japanese etiquette. But to habitual fine-diners, to the royals, to the Japanese, these…
As I approached my 54th birthday, I found myself rather overweight and unfit. I was regularly experiencing pain in my hips and knees. I began to realise that if I wanted to avoid more serious…
We were lucky enough to have a social visit from Sensei Pete Bailie, who teaches in Bristol Redland, this weekend. He made a very long journey up to see us, so we took advantage and…
This past weekend saw the Spring Seminar gradings and course. The Saturday started with successful Dan grading tests. Congratulations to the examinees from the Panteg and Hitchin clubs. Grading officers, teachers, ukes, and examinees In…
In the run up to the Summer Seminar, there are some odd-jobs needing done around the headquarters building. If you’re coming to the Spring Seminar (16th May), please let us know if you can spend…
What is a “Third Place”? The book The Great Good Place by Ray Oldenburg (co-authored by Karen Christensen), defines a person’s “first place” as the home and the people they live with, while a person’s…
