Aikikai Aikido CanberraAustralian Capital TerritoryAikido is fun! It is a form of personal development with the excitement of martial confrontation, the skill of a refined art, and the satisfaction of good exercise. Aikido involves blending with and redirecting an aggressor's movement (instead of directly opposing with force) to restrain or evade without needing to inflict injury. Aikido is non-competitive (and retains techniques that would not be safe for competitions), the idea is to refine one's self rather than conflict with others. "Aikido" could be translated as "harmonising discipline".A typical class warms up first with stretching, the time is then punctuated with demonstrations of specific techniques by the instructor, and the bulk is spent practising those techniques in pairs (or small groups). Students take turns to attack or to respond to being attacked, and frequently change partners (so that everyone can train with the more advanced students and with people of different builds). Sometimes training involves weapons (e.g., sword, staff and knife) or multiple attackers. Aiki-Kai Australia is the local mainstream aikido organisation. It is recognised by the Aikikai Foundation in Japan (headed by the heir of the founder of aikido, who certifies black-belt gradings) and is member of the IAF (which organises international events). The technical instruction is overseen through the Foundation of Sugano shihan (who introduced aikido to Australia at the direction of the founder of aikido). Aiki-Kai Australia has dojos in every state, and organises week-long national training camps every six months (so students get to learn from more senior instructors). In Canberra, Australian Capital Territory (ACT), we currently train in two locations and invite you to come and watch a class:
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