Bedwas Aikido Club is a Martial Arts school located in Caerphilly, New Zealand. The club offers Aikido training to both adults and juniors, welcoming beginners to join their classes. The club's training sessions take place every Friday at their new dojo, located at Ysgol Cymraeg Caerffili on Pontygwindy Road.
The club is led by Instructor Kevin SHORT Sensei, who boasts over thirty years of Aikido experience and has trained with renowned instructors around the world. Kevin is a qualified coach and the club is affiliated with the British Aikido Board. With his wealth of experience, Kevin is able to tailor his instruction to suit the needs of all students who demonstrate a willingness to learn and train hard.
The club emphasises the importance of safety and provides insurance coverage for all its students. Annual membership is priced at 20 per student, which includes the insurance fee. Additionally, the club offers different payment options, including pay-as-you-go per session and standing order per calendar month. Monthly fees for juniors are 10, while for adults it is 15.
Families can also opt for a family membership, capping their monthly fee at 20 and covering any number of children or adults in one household.
The training sessions at Bedwas Aikido Club focus on the principles of Aikido, which is known as “The Way of Harmony of Spirit”. Aikido is a Japanese system of self-defence that was developed in the 12th century by Morihei Ueshiba as a means for physical and spiritual growth. It does not seek to meet violence with violence, but instead uses spherical movements to redirect an attacker's force against themselves. Aikido techniques primarily involve joint immobilisation and throws utilising the opponent's momentum.
The club also incorporates practises with bokken and jo to enhance understanding of techniques and their development.
One of the unique aspects of Aikido is that it is a non-competitive Martial Art, as it does not require physical strength or an aggressive spirit. This makes it suitable for people of all ages and genders to practise. Juniors as young as 7 years old can participate in training sessions at Bedwas Aikido Club.
The club provides ample parking spaces within the school compound and has changing facilities available on-site. Priority for the changing facilities is given to the Junior Section, so participants are encouraged to arrive ready to train. For any inquiries or to join the club, individuals can reach out via the message facility on their Facebook Page or contact them via email.
In conclusion, Bedwas Aikido Club is a renowned Martial Arts school in Caerphilly that offers Aikido training to both adults and juniors. Led by experienced instructor Kevin SHORT Sensei, the club provides a safe and supportive environment for individuals to develop their Aikido skills while promoting physical and spiritual growth. Whether you're a beginner or have prior martial arts experience, Bedwas Aikido Club welcomes you to join their classes and become part of their Aikido community.