Cambridge Aiki Dojo

The style of aikido

We practice aikikai style aikido, and are affliated to the Komyokan Aikido Association (KAA), who are endorsed by the Aikikai Hombu Dojo (headquarters) in Tokyo. The Senior Instructor of the KAA is Terry Ezra shihan (7th dan so hombu), whose full-time Dojo in Birkenhead, Merseyside is the Headquarters of the organisation.

The chief instructor of our club is Simon Whittaker sensei (4th dan so hombu), who has over 25 years of aikido experience.

We have a very friendly and international dojo, so even if you are only in Cambridge for a short time, you are very welcome to come along and train with us.

Where and when is the class?

We have three classes per week... you can find out the times of classes, costs, where the dojo is, and so on, but having a look at our Useful Information page.

The training syllabus

We have a syllabus of techniques available. These are the things you need to know for gradings - the tests we have to pass to progress through the grades.

Grading application form: PDF format or Word format.

Weapons in aikido

We generally use three kinds of weapon in our regular aikido practice. These are the jo (a wooden staff, about 1.5m long), the bokken (a wooden sword), and the tanto (a wooden knife). Have a look at the About Aikido page for more detail.

The senseis

Simon Whittaker sensei (4th dan so hombu)

Started training in 1982 under Russel Eberhardt Sensei and later Tony Sargeant Sensei, as part of "The institute of Aikido" , at the Howard Mallet sports club, Cambridge.
1989 - Shodan aikijutsu with Police Tai ho jutsu and trained as an instructor for the PSU (riot squad) becoming a regional trainer.
1991 - Shodan with The Institute of Aikido - taken at the Hut, London.
1992 - Cambridge Aikido Club moved to Saito Sensei Iwama and the Iwama Ryu was formed by Sargeant Sensei.
1992 - Cambridge Police Aiki dojo formed
1994 - Introduced to Ezra Sensei - Birkenhead.
1994 - Uchideshi programme Iwama, Japan.
1995 - Nidan taken in german with Kobiashi sensei
1996 - Cambridge Police dojo, changed to Cambridge Aiki Dojo joining the United Kingdom Aikikai
2003 - Awarded San Dan - became Fukushidoin in the UKA
2005 - Awarded Yon Dan - So hombu

Glyn Davies (4th dan so hombu)

With a group of friends in 1963 I attended my first Aikido class, it was held at the Regal Sports Centre in Cardiff. The Dojo, primarily a judo club, shared space with a dance school on the first floor of the centre.

My first teacher was Ken Williams of the Renown Aikido Society, who travelled from The Hut, West Drayton Road, Hillingdon to Cardiff on a regular basis. The Renown Aikido Society guided our dojo for 3 years, it was during that period that I met my first Japanese teacher. Noro Sensei began to visit Cardiff and I will never forget how much he influenced my Aikido. He taught many weekend courses with a total emphasis on graceful movement and focused power.

My first Summer school experience was Grange Farm, where Nakazano Sensei taught for the week. This was my first insight into the link between Taijutsu and weapons.

As a 1st Kyu in 1967 I met Chiba Sensei for the first time, I believe Chiba Sensei was 27 years old at that time. I was so influenced by his teaching that I became a regular student of his. Chiba Sensei graded me Shodan on the 23 December 1967 and I enjoyed being his uke for many of his visits to Wales.

In 1971 domestic matters started to influence my regular practice. Career development had to take precedence over my Aikido. I began to travel extensively, chasing job opportunities, and working long and varied hours. My Aikido practice became very patchy and my fitness deteriorated.

In 1981 I arrived in Cambridge and found the Iwama dojo, Tony Sargeant was Sensei, studying under Saito Sensei. It was at this point that I began to visit overseas dojos particularly Israel and the West Coast of North America. Study under Saito Sensei concentrated mainly on weapons and influenced me greatly.

In the mid 90's I redirected my practice and joined Simon Whittaker Sensei at the Cambridge Aiki Dojo. A total of 43 years practicing Aikido has given me many great memories, culminated in Bill Smith Sensei honouring me with Yondan. Cambridge dojo enjoys a unique atmosphere and I hope that my life experiences can play a supportive role within this progressive dojo.

Britta Kleinsorge (1st dan)

Britta started Aikido in autumn 1990 at Kaiserslautern University (http://www.uni-kl.de) with the Tendo-Ryu Association (http://www.tendoryu-aikido.de/). She originally thought of doing Karate or basketball, but her timetable "only" permitted Aikido, which she now thinks was quite lucky.

She then caught the virus and has trained ever since, albeit with some intermissions due to travelling, moving and most recently having a baby (born 2004). Britta moved to England in 1995, when she joined Sensei Sargeant's Dojo (http://www.takemusu-iwama-aikido-gb.org/). She then joined Simon Whittaker and Glyn Davies at the end of 1996 or beginning 1997.

She was awarded her Sho-Dan in 2000.

 

Other dan grades (black belts) that you might find at class include Matt Mumford, Steve Bates, Mariusz Zmija, Pàdraic Moran, Adriana Gonzalez...

Dojo committee

Ever wondered how things get organised in the aikido club?
Who looks after the finances? Who keeps track of attendance? Who decides when gradings will be? Who organises the Christmas raffle and celebrations? How do we find out about and announce courses? Who decides which organisation we belong to?

OK, maybe you have never asked yourself any of those questions, but perhaps you should.

The answer is that the dojo has a committee to oversee the smooth running of activities.
It meets two or three times a year, as necessary, to discuss all the important things going on in the club.

The committee members are as follows:

• Simon Whittaker (he started the club!)
• Glyn Davies
• Matt Mumford
• Stephen Bates (keeps an eye on attendance)
• Britta Kleinsorge (looks after finances)
• Hugh Purser
• Karyn Mégy
• Francis Rowland
  

Not everyone has a specific role, but we all have a say in what happens, and everyone takes part on a voluntary basis.

It is YOUR aikido club, and YOUR aikido committee.

That means, if you want to raise any issues; if you have ideas or suggestions, please talk to us.
We always try to act with the best interests of the club in mind, so knowing what is important to you will help us a lot.
After all, co-operation is a fundamental aspect of aikido.