A Short Video On What Training Normally Looks Like:

What is Aikido?

• Aikido is a modern Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba, known as O-Sensei meaning “great teacher”. Aikido is a synthesis of O-Sensei's martial studies. 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 protect oneself while not inflicting serious damage to the oppenent, and at the same time overcome oneself instead of cultivating violence or aggressiveness.

Aikido: "the way of harmonious spirit"

• Ai, meaning “joining” or “harmonising”
• Ki, meaning “breath”, or “energy”
• Do, meaning “way” or “path”

O Sensei Morihei Ueshiba

Who teaches us? 

Our Chief Intructor is Tim Sullivan 3th 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, lead 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 honored with 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.

What do we learn?

• Its 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. 

Where and when we do practice?

Where? In the Combat Rooms in Sports and Wellness Hub at the University of Warwick. 

• Address: Combat Room, Sports and Wellness Hub,  Cryfield Village, University of Warwick,  Coventry, CV4 7EU
• 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 hosts seminars, usually twice per term.

Club Memberships: 

We have decided to reduce price for 24/25. The new price will be kept for future years if it proves sustainable.

To join any on-campus club at 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 not the club ourself.

To join Aikido specifically, in order to cover fees for coaching and training space/material, we charge the followings,

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 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 training clothing (Gi), if you are new to Aikido)

You may also pay for one single class for £4 each.

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The details below are for previous years. They are not in place this year.

The purchase of club memberships can be bought termly or yearly, and are as follow:

Termly fee: £60

Yearly fee (with a free gi + £30 discount): £150

For new members, our classes are free for the first two weeks of term 1.

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Opportunities!

• We have a number of seminars throughout the year with an annual trip to a dojo in another country. Our previous trips have been to Berlin and Athens. This year, there will be a tour to a city in Europe in the Spring break. As no international tour has been possible in the last few years, in Spring 2022 we held a three-day intensive seminar in a dojo in Burton-on-Trent.
• To build our trust with one another, we have a regular social after our training sessions to grab a meal or a drink. We often meet up with each other in our spare time to play badminton, football, squash, sing karaoke and watch movies!
• Outside of the club, various members have travelled to international Aikido seminars together, such as in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and Athens, Greece.

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 practicing. 

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! :)