Bradford Tomiki Aikido Club has been providing martial arts training in Aikido for juniors (6 years to 15 years) and seniors (16+ years) in Bradford, New Zealand for over 40 years. Aikido is a Japanese form of self-defence and martial art that focuses on using locks, holds, throws, and the opponent's own movements. The club is a member of the British Aikido Association (BAA).
Training sessions are held on Thursdays at the Sedbergh Sports and Leisure Centre. From 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm, there are classes for juniors and youth aged 6 to 15 years. From 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm, there is a class for youth aged 13+ years and seniors aged 16+ years. And from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm, there is a class specifically for seniors.
On Saturdays, classes are held at Kents Fitness in Eccleshill. From 11:00 am to 12:00 pm, there are classes for juniors and youth aged 6 to 15 years. From 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm, there is a class for seniors aged 16+ years.
If members are unable to attend the Thursday or Saturday classes, there are partner Aikido clubs available in the surrounding areas. These include Huddersfield Tomiki Aikido Club, which holds classes on Mondays at the Huddersfield Leisure Centre, and Wakefield Aikido Club, which holds classes on Wednesdays at Lightwaves Leisure Centre.
Bradford Tomiki Aikido Club also offers competitive Aikido training. Competitive Aikido was a concept introduced by Kenji Tomiki, a first-generation student of Aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba and Judo founder Jigaro Kano. Kenji Tomiki believed that practising only traditional Aikido would not fully prepare students for applying Aikido techniques against fully resistant opponents. The club participates in junior and senior competitions organised by the British Aikido Association (BAA), Worldwide Sport Aikido Federation (WSAF), Japan Aikido Association (JAA), and European Tomiki Aikido Network (ETAN).
The club also provides information about upcoming events and competitions on their website. They have club training sessions scheduled for January, February, and March, as well as junior club grading sessions. Interested individuals can check the club's calendar for more details.
For those who want to know more about the club or Aikido in general, they are encouraged to attend one of the training sessions and speak to the club coaches. Alternatively, they can use the contact form provided on the website.
The club regularly updates its Facebook page with news and updates. Recent posts include announcements about the start of the training sessions, celebrating the successes of the year, and news about club members' achievements, such as obtaining Dan ranks and participating in seminars and championships.