This page was last updated on the 28/4/08

Class Times & Cost

Classes are on:                                     

MONDAYS           6:30 - 8:30 pm at Dorking Sports Centre, Dorking, Surrey.

WEDNESDAYS    7:30 - 9:15 pm at the K.L.S. Centre, Battersea, London.

 

The classes are open to adults and teenagers (16-19 years old), women and men of all ages.

If you are attending the class, please arrive 20-30 minutes earlier. This will allow time for you to change and to help set up the mats on which we practice.

Classes run all year round except for: 2 weeks closing at Xmas/ New Year and Bank Holiday Mondays.

Costs per class:      

£9 per class for adults.

£7 per class for teenagers.

 

Monthly discounted fees- 1 class (average 4 classes/ month) for either Monday or Wednesday classes:

£25 cash or cheque paid in advance at the beginning of the  month.

£22 if paid by Standing Order

 

Monthly discounted fees- 2 classes (average 8 classes/ month)  both Monday and Wednesday classes:

£45 cash or cheque paid in advance at the beginning of the  month.

£40 if paid by Standing Order

 

10 consecutive classes in advance:

£55 cash or cheque paid in advance.

 

Annual insurance cover:  £6 per year for all ages.

Venues

Monday class Venue:

Dorking Sports Centre, Reigate Road, Dorking, Surrey RH4 1SW

Nearest BR stations are Dorking for trains from London and Dorking Deepdene for trains from Gatwick and Redhill directions. They are 10 minutes walk.

Report to reception when you arrive at the Sports Centre and they will let you through the barriers; the class takes place in Badminton Court number 4, on your right as you come in, changing facilities are on your left.

Wednesday class Venue:

Katherine Low Settlement Community Centre, 
108, Battersea High Street (*see entrance details below)
Battersea, London SW11 3HP.

How to get there: BR Clapham Junction (10 minutes walk) and/or Buses: 44, 344, 345, 49 and 319 to Battersea High Street.

* The Entrance to the class is on Orville Road (The building is on the corner of Battersea High Street and Orville Road). Find the black door on Orville Rd and ring the buzzer, marked 'Chapel', someone will let you in. As you come in the door, go up to the top of the staircase. You will find our dojo there.

Want to join the class

All new attendees are required to watch the first class, for which there is no charge. This applies even if you have already practiced Aikido or other martial arts before. You will need to assess whether what is being studied is of interest to you and whether the style of teaching suits you, before you join. You may join in on the second class.

To watch the London class please arrive 5-10 minutes before it starts. Otherwise, you may need to wait 5-10 minutes to be let in the door, since we start the class with sitting meditation, which cannot be interrupted.

If you have any questions you can ask the teacher after the class.

What to wear

Beginners can wear a track suit or loose fitting clothes to start with; unless of course you happen to have a martial arts suit with a white belt, which would be ideal. No shoes are needed, bare feet is the norm.

Once you have decided to practice regularly, you will be expected to buy yourself a martial art suit.

About the Teacher:

Nicola Endicott has been studying martial arts for 25 years and Aikido for the last 20 years. In 1994, she was awarded a black belt 1st Dan in Aikido when in Japan. She received her 2nd Dan on a summer course in Wales with Inaba Sensei in 2006. Since 1990, her practise of Aikido has also been informed and influenced by her Meditation and Shiatsu practise. Nicola is also a Shiatsu practitioner and runs a Shiatsu practices in SW London and Dorking, Surrey.

About the Dojo

The London Battersea class was set up in March 1998 and the Dorking class in September 2007 by Nicola Endicott.  The class numbers are small (4-10), which allows for more individual tuition. The club is not part of any of the big Aikido federations, however it has some connections with other dojos in London and internationally, including Japan.

What happens during a class

This Aikido training focuses first on the health of the participant, that is the state of their body and mind. Thus the beginning of the class is spent gently stretching the body and practising some breathing and centering exercises; so slowly relaxing tensions in the body and calming the myriad of thoughts in the mind. This enables one be in a more relaxed, focused and balanced state before interacting with others.

The second part of the class is what most people imagine to be a martial art and involves practising defence against set attacks. Self-defence is achieved through blending and absorbing the energy and movement of an attack, creating in turn a positive movement that ideally does not endanger the receiver or attacker. This is a skill that can be developed with time, and is easier said than done! It involves unlearning habits such as: pre-empting, pushing away, getting anxious, scared, getting into a fight, etc. New habits, such as: softening one's body, receiving from centre, standing still in the face of conflict and much more are practised, and often can be useful for everyday life too.

A third part of the class is dedicated to the practice of Kashima Shinryu Kenjutsu, a sword form practised with wooden or bamboo swords. Practising this sword form requires many of the same skills as the empty hand work described above, it can also help you develop more focus and alertness.

About the Teaching Style

The Aikido style practised is focused primarily on developing an understanding of the principles of Aikido, such as how to move from your centre and with your breath. It is not focused on learning technique. Though technique is taught, it is more as a tool to help understand the principles rather than as end in itself. In terms of known styles it is not 'tomiki' or 'ki-aikido', it is also not strictly 'traditional' since it does not focus on learning technique.

The Kashima Shinryu Ketjustu taught is focused on learning how to move with a sword as an extension of the practitioner, using many of the same principles as learnt in the Aikido. We also study specific forms which we practise with a partner.

Benefits of practicing Aikido and Kenjustu - what students say: