Belfast Shodokan Aikido

Shodokan Aikido (昭道館合気道) is a martial art and style of aikido founded in 1967 by Kenji Tomiki (富木 謙治). Our style places more emphasis on free-form randori sparring than most other styles of aikido. The training method requires a balance between randori (being on the recieving end of a controlled attack) and the more stylised kata training along with a well-developed set of training drills both specific for randori and for general aikido development. The participation in actual shiai (competitive randori) very much depends on the individual, it is encouraged but not compulsory.

Upon joining, instruction is initially centred on physical exercises designed to improve motor skills and physical coordination. We will teach you how to fall without hurting yourself. After you are comfortable with falling, we introduce the basic martial arts principles of movement. In conjunction with these principles of movement, we will instruct you in the techniques of aikido. Cooperation and teamwork are encouraged as the more accomplished students assist the newer students in developing their skills, thus learning a sense of internalised self-discipline.

Belfast Shodokan Aikido has been dedicated in the coaching of aikido to students for over 3 decades. We are and always have been a not-for-profit organisation. We follow the syllabus set by Hombu Dojo (HQ), Japan, and many of our coaches have graded under Tetsuro Nariyama Shihan (成山 哲郎), Japanese Aikido Federation.

You should find our classes down-to-earth, varied, intrinsically nourishing, fun, interesting and somewhat complicated at the beginning, so give yourself a few weeks to judge to see if you like it. Aikido is realively gentle on the body compared to some other martial arts and so is suited for females and the older human that may be interested in taking up a martial art. Ultimately, the best way to see if aikido is right for you is to come along and give it a go.