Aikido in Caversham, Reading Tuesdays 20:00-21:30 Aikido in West Reading at the YMCA Thursdays 19.30-21.30
Sundays 16.30-18.30
Train once, twice or three times a week.
For more
information
contactus@whiteoak-aikido.org or
phone:01189701781
N.B. You must be over 18 to
train.
Member Comments 'The people are friendly and helpful.'
'Practice is offered within a very positive and encouraging environment.'
'It's about developing your own skills in a safe environment.'
'I tried a few martial arts and found Aikido intriguing.'
'It's fun
and challenging.'
'Apart from
learning aikido, the training also allowed me to meet great people and make
friends.’
‘The physical
and mental discipline of Aikido is powerful and something I'd like to fully
develop as my life matures.'
'The
instructor group are united, consistent and their dedication to teaching is
inspiring, all the way to contagious.'
What we love about Aikido - our Aikido Reading list of favourite words in a word cloud:
Aikido Reading and Caversham - Martial Arts in Reading Berkshire
Free Taster - Come along and try this
fascinating martial art
Welcome to Aikido in
Reading, Berkshire, at the White Oak Dojo. We've been offering training in martial arts in Reading and the surrounding area since 1991. We run courses in the basics of Aikido to provide beginners
(aged 18+) with a structured introduction to
this exciting martial art at the YMCA in west Reading and at the Caversham Heights Methodist Church Hall in Caversham to the north of Reading.
Come along and try Aikido for yourself - it's free
We're a friendly martial arts club, where you're always welcome
to come and watch one of our Aikido classes and
talk to us before
you start training. What's more, your first training session is free, so you can have a go and see if you'll enjoy Aikido, whether
it's the martial art for you and whether you like the
classes before committing to
anything. Martial arts training
at White Oak Aikido is open to anyone over the age of 18 and we have no
upper age limit. Find out more about starting your martial arts training in Reading.
Who will be teaching me?
Our team of highly skilled and qualified male and female instructors have some 90 years' experience of training in and teaching Aikido. That means you can be sure that your martial arts training will be of the highest calibre. Please read on to discover more about what is Aikido, the benefits of Aikido and our Aikido lineage and affiliation.
What is Aikido?
Aikido is a fascinating and engrossing,
traditional Japanese martial art, a way of self-defence, that makes use of an attacker's strength, momentum
and aggression. Historically, the techniques of Aikido
originate from the throws, joint locks, sword and
staff techniques of the samurai warrior. Aikido training will also help you to optimise how you move your
body to maximise your efficiency and
power, developing a deep
understanding of how your body works and how this
power can be used most effectively.
Aikido is a
martial art that doesn't rely on you being stronger, fitter or faster
than an attacker, so
it can become a lifelong study. Obviously, of course, younger people will tend to be more active and train harder and more physically, whilst older people will tend to train more slowly - either way, our aim will be to challenge you and push your boundaries. You'll find that Aikido is a very
flexible martial art, where you learn to use a level
of response appropriate to the situation.
Emphasis in your Aikido training is placed on evading,
absorbing and redirecting an attack, rather than
trying to block an attack by a potentially stronger person. Aikido classes will teach you the
importance of achieving mental calm and control
of your own body in order to deal with an
opponent's attack effectively and, whenever possible, without causing unnecessary
harm. At one extreme, a form of Aikido is used
by the Tokyo riot police, but unlike some other
martial arts, the ultimate aim of modern Aikido
is to control, rather than to maim or kill an
opponent. Check out our tips on finding the best martial art for you.
Benefits of
Aikido
Aikido is a dynamic,
expansive martial art, in which
you'll develop fitness, suppleness, good posture and
co-ordination. Your self-confidence will also increase as you train in Aikido and, as your co-ordination and
balance improve, you'll work on being more present in
your body and on occupying your personal space.
Aikido training helps you to identify your personal boundaries and
gives you the skills to defend them. As you train in Aikido and gain confidence in your skills, you'll be able to move away from adrenaline
fuelled 'flight or fight' reactions and instead
choose to respond in the manner most appropriate to the
situation. The same Aikido approach can be
extended to non-physical conflict resolution.
Modern living tends to make
us wary of physical contact. Aikido training will help you
to work in close contact with another person in
scenarios where physical contact is at its most
threatening. Aikido classes offer you
the opportunity to express yourself freely
through movement. The absence of physical and mental tension and
resistance, which we emphasise in our Aikido classes, can help you to release any ingrained
constraints in your body and your movement, that
could give rise to frustrations, energy blockages and
illnesses. Aikido can help you to face any fear
of confrontation you may have and to learn a new way of
resolving conflict. Training in Aikido will develop your physical
relaxation, mental calmness and awareness, so you can respond freely to what
occurs. Regular training in Aikido helps you to become centred and grounded and,
therefore, better able to deal with the stresses of
daily life.
White Oak Aikido Reading - Lineage and
Affiliation
White Oak
Aikido in Reading was founded in 1991, based at the YMCA, Parkside Road, Reading Berkshire, and carries on an Aikido tradition in Reading
which was first established in 1969 at our
sister Aikido club at Reading University, under the auspices of
Haydn
Foster Sensei (7th Dan), one of the great
pioneers of Aikido in the UK in the 1950s. Our senior
instructor was a direct student of Haydn Foster
Sensei for some 27 years and all our instructors
are recognised as coaches by the British Aikido
Board, the national governing body for Aikido in
the UK. We teach a traditional style of Aikido
incorporating empty-handed
techniques, the bokken and the jo - take a look at our vision here.
Find out more about getting
involved in the martial art of Aikido in Reading:
Welcome to Aikido in
Reading, Berkshire, at the White Oak Dojo. We've been offering training in martial arts in Reading and the surrounding area since 1991. We run courses in the basics of Aikido to provide 
is a fascinating and engrossing,
traditional Japanese martial art, a way of self-defence, that makes use of an attacker's strength, momentum
and aggression. Historically, the techniques of Aikido
originate from the throws, joint locks, sword and
staff techniques of the samurai warrior. Aikido training will also help you to optimise how you move your
body to maximise your efficiency and
power, developing a deep
understanding of how your body works and how this
power can be used most effectively.
Aikido is a dynamic,
expansive martial art, in which
you'll develop fitness, suppleness, good posture and
co-ordination. Your self-confidence will also increase as you train in Aikido and, as your co-ordination and
balance improve, you'll work on being more present in
your body and on occupying your personal space.
Aikido training helps you to identify your personal boundaries and
gives you the skills to defend them. As you train in Aikido and gain confidence in your skills, you'll be able to move away from adrenaline
fuelled 'flight or fight' reactions and instead
choose to respond in the manner most appropriate to the
situation. The same Aikido approach can be
extended to non-physical conflict resolution. 
White Oak
Aikido in Reading was founded in 1991, based at the 
