Full Time Aikido dojo's in the UK

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[Mathias Lee]

Hi, I'm about to have a gap year so I was wondering if anyone knows of any full time aikido dojo's in the uk that it might be worth training at, or just very good dojo's!
Thanks,
Mat

[Mike Grant]

My advice, go to Japan. Iwama, riot police course....who cares. Just go over there, learn the language, assimilate the culture and get the best training in the world.

[Yann Golanski]

If you cannot go to Japan (which would be what I'd recomand as well), I'd suggest looking into a place that has several styles close by. That way you can train pretty much once a day. Yeah, I know UK is not Japan or America. Here instructors have to have real jobs or they end up living with no electricity, water or heating in a hovel.

Mathew, if you want some names... Both Steve Evans and Scot Albright are worth checking out.

Or instead of training at one dojo, travel and train at them all.

[Joe Bowen]

If you're disinclined to travel to Japan to train, from what I understand having just moved to the UK that there are few full time dojos anywhere. However, a very trustworthy source told me that while I was in the UK I should seek out and try to train with Kanetska Sensei (who I believes runs a full-time dojo in London) and Ezra Sensei (who also runs a full-time dojo in Liverpool).
I trained with Kanetska Sensei at the BAF spring course in Wales, and his aikido is quite impressive. I've seen some video clips of Ezra Sensei (also impressive) and plan on making my own way to Liverpool to attend a course or two with him in the coming year.
I don't know if either of them has an Uchi-deshi program or not, but you can contact them to find out.

joe

[wayneth]

Kanetsuka Sensei is defiantly someone you should train under, his Aikido is amazing.
His times can be seen at his site http://www.ryushinkan.org/details.htm

[philipsmith]

We have daily classes with a variety of instructors. Just follow the link www.renshinkan.co.uk

[Pauliina Lievonen]

The website for Ezra sensei's dojo is: http://www.komyokan.aikido.co.uk/

I know a couple of guys have spent a year training there all week and working in the weekends. If you decide to visit, make sure to also take part in the morning meditation and chanting, it makes for a really nice complete training day.

kvaak
Pauliina

[justin]

wish i had that chance to travel and train, anyway i would second waynes choice Kanetsuka Sensei the technical director of the british aikido federation and if i had the chance to train more often is where i would be heading.

good luck where ever you end up.

[markwalsh]

Renhshinkan and Komyokan were both very welcoming to me and have great teachers. The former is a second home really - mail me if you end up there.

There was also an Iwama style dojo in Cambs but I think moved to Greece now! Also a Ki style dojo in West country and a dojo in Bristol that I dont know about.

If Japan doesnt appeal there is a variety of great dojos in the US and France - just as good in my opinion.

Good luck.

[kohaku]

there are two full time dojo's in the style of Shudokan (which is like Yoshinkan) one at nottingham headed by Ken Robson Sensei and the other in Preston run by Mick Mercer Sensei, both of which have recently been training with Robert Mustard Sensei in Canada, and are open six days a week.