Pen-Y-Bont Aikido Club is a martial arts club located in the Bridgend area of South Wales. The club is part of the Shin-Gi-Tai Aikido Society and focuses on teaching traditional Aikido techniques through a structured and varied syllabus.
The club is fortunate enough to have a bespoke dojo located at Cefn Coed Lane, Cefn Glas in Bridgend. The dojo is permanently matted, including a traditional canvassed mat area that is perfect for training. This eliminates the need to constantly put down and put away mats at the start and end of each training session.
One of the main goals of Pen-Y-Bont Aikido Club is to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all students. The club believes that learning should be enjoyable and strives to accommodate the individual learning needs of each student. This is done while still observing the etiquette of a traditional Japanese martial art.
Sensei Martin Williams and Sensei Bryn Powis, the instructors at Pen-Y-Bont Aikido Club, both emphasise the importance of continuous learning and self-improvement. They constantly seek to enhance their teaching by learning new techniques and concepts, which they then pass on to their students.
Aikido is highly regarded as an effective martial art for self-defence. Not only does it teach students how to defend against various attacks, but it also trains their state of mind and physical condition. The practise of Aikido helps improve posture, breathing, and mental calmness, which can be applied to handle stressful situations and conflicts in different environments. Additionally, Aikido helps develop the spirit, sense of well-being, awareness, and compassion of its practitioners.
Pen-Y-Bont Aikido Club offers training sessions for both adults and children. Adults can attend sessions every Tuesday from 7:30pm to 9pm and every Thursday from 7:30pm to 9pm. The first session is free, and subsequent lessons are priced at 4 per session. For children aged six and above, there are junior sessions every Saturday from 10:30am to 12:00pm, with a cost of 3.
50 per session.
Children are encouraged to train at the club and are taught through play, utilising training aids to help them with Aikido techniques. This approach helps build their confidence, focus, coordination, concentration, and abilities, which are crucial life skills for them to succeed. Junior sessions are also available for children aged 10 and above in the evenings.
Pen-Y-Bont Aikido Club actively participates in community campaigns, such as supporting the South Wales Police campaign to stop domestic violence.
For those who are interested in experiencing Aikido for the first time, the first lesson is free. The club welcomes anyone who wants to come and have a look at what they do.
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