What is Aikido?
Aikido is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba (Ō-Sensei). The art uses throws, locks and pins as its principal movements. Translated as “the way of harmonious spirit” the primary goal for the practice of aikido is to overcome oneself instead of cultivating violence or aggressiveness.
What do we learn?
Techniques include pins, controls and throws, which use the attackers' strength and weight against them. Using rotational motions, Aikido neutralises the aggressors' force and includes empty hand, bokken (sword), jo (wooden staff), and tanto (knife) defences.
Learn more about Aikido on our website: About Aikido, Dojo Information
A Short Video On What Training Normally Looks Like:
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Where and when do we practice?
Where? In the Combat Rooms in Sports and Wellness Hub at the University of Warwick.
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Address: Combat Room, Sports and Wellness Hub, Cryfield Village, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7EU
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Walk directly into the Sports and Wellness Hub, there is only one entrance. Then go straight forward and you will see the combat room on your left across from the swimming area.
When? Two times a week. (Updated for 24/25)
- Monday: 18:30 - 20:00
- Wednesday: 20:00 - 22:00
- We also host seminars, usually twice per term.
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Who teaches us?
Our Chief Instructor is Tim Sullivan 3rd Dan, from 24/25. Tim Sullivan is an alumnus who began his Aikido journey here at Warwick Aikido, with Chris Mooney Sensei.
Our dojo was, since 2002, led by Chris Mooney 7th Dan Shihan; a world-renowned teacher with over 40 years of experience in Aikido. He consistently taught students at Warwick University for 20 years.
Even though he has retired since 2024. Chris Mooney Sensei remains our Technical Director, and we are often honoured by his visits, especially for seminars.
- He studied and travelled with the eminent T.K Chiba Sensei and had one of the only full-time dojos in the UK.
- Mooney Sensei sits on the Teaching Council of the British Birankai (British Aikikai), overseeing the work of the Teaching Committee and the cultivation of the next generation of Aikido teachers.
- Mooney Sensei is the technical director of Birankai in Germany, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.
Learn more about our instructors and history on our website: Lineage and Teachers
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Opportunities!
- We hold regular seminars and an annual international dojo trip, with past destinations including Berlin and Athens.
- This year, there will be a tour to a city in Europe during the Spring break
- We also have regular social gatherings after training sessions and enjoy activities like badminton, football, squash, karaoke, and movies
- Outside of the club, various members have travelled to international Aikido seminars together in places like Almaty, Kazakhstan, and Athens, Greece
Explore our posts on Instagram and Facebook! @warwickaikido (Instagram) Warwick Aikido Facebook
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Your safety when practising :
- Our practice of techniques is conducted on a matted area using judo mats.
- We wear white gi with a white belt, but newcomers are welcome in sportswear.
- To practice martial arts is to trust another with your health and safety and to have others trust you. It is about having respect for those around you, and there is a responsibility to be aware and to keep others safe when practising.
If you have any questions, do feel free to contact us via our Facebook and email. For further information, visit our website.
Don't forget to follow us on
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gensenjyuku/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/warwickaikido/
Website: https://warwickaikido.com/
We hope to see you on the mats! :)
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Club Memberships:
We have decided to reduce our prices for 24/25. The new price will be kept for future years if it proves sustainable.
To join any on-campus club at the University of Warwick, the Warwick Sport Club pass and Sports Federation membership must first be purchased. These are under the jurisdiction of Warick SU and are not to the club itself.
To join Aikido specifically, to cover fees for coaching and training space/material, we charge the following:
For first year undergraduate or PhD students:
- Termly fee: £40 for term 1, £50 for term 2 or 3.
- Yearly fee: £100 (with a free set of training clothing (Gi), if you are new to Aikido)
For non-first year undergraduate students:
- Termly fee: £50
- Yearly fee: £120 (with a free set of training clothing (Gi), if you are new to Aikido)
You may also pay for one single class for £4 each.
For new members, our classes are free for the first two weeks of term 1