Latest information

2024 updates

 

Regular classes:

 

Thursday 7:15pm - 8:45pm (All levels)

Saturday 10:30am - 12:30pm (All levels)

 

Ashmoor Leisure Centre

(South Devon Community College)

Balland Lane

Ashburton TQ13 7EW

 

 

Beginners:

 

We run 6 week beginners courses in the new year.  The next begins on 4th January.  It is £40 for six Thursday evening classes (would normally be £48).

 

That should give you a chance to get used to the form of the practice; how to fall safely, how to move with good alignment and coordinate your movemnts to use the most powerful muscles first.  You will also learn the basic techniques and get used to practising the basic principles.

 

 

Courses coming up this year:

 

Pascal DURCHON (6th Dan Aikikai) 

February 24th and 25th 

 

Dimitri CRENIER (6th Dan Aikikai)

April 13th and 14th.

 

To be arranged - we hope to re-establish our week long course with Pascal in August 2024

 

 

Also - through our 'sister' club, Yokohama International Aikido Devon, there will also be a major event later this year - details to follow!

 

 

 

 

Grading Structure

It is important to realise that the grouping of these techniques is not arbitrary.  

 

The structure of these grades contains a logical progression - one which makes it possible to internalise principles.

 

These principles, once deepened into reactions, allow infinite variations against any form of attack; conventional or otherwise.

Principles underlying gradings

For each technique listed below both omote (interior) and ura (exterior) forms need to be known and demonstrated.

 

There is often more than one possible version (particularly in 3rd Kyu and above).  As a general principle, where there is a choice, the basic technique (often leading to a backward breakfall) should be performed first.  If time allows more advanced versions can then be demonstrated.

 

In the aikikai we do not signal our grade to others during the practice (badges or coloured belts). These grades are a personal progression for each of us - signifying the development of a personal, kinaesthetic repertoire.  

 

The 'at least ... months ...' statements below come from the Hombu Dojo.  It is very unlikely that anyone would be able to learn what is required in these times.  For the vast majority of people much longer periods need to be envisaged.

5th Kyu - at least 2 months practice

Tachi waza (Both standing)   Ikkyo (first principle)   Ai Hanmi Katate Dori    
      Shomen Uchi
  Irimi Nage (entering throw) Ai Hanmi Katate Dori 
    Shomen Uchi
  Shiho Nage (four directional throw)  Ai Hanmi Katate Dori 
  Tenchi Nage (heaven and earth) Katate Dori 
     
Suwari waza (Both kneeling) Kokyu Ho (breathing exercise) Ryote Dori
  Shikko (Knee walking)    

4th Kyu - at least 3 months from 5th Kyu

Tachi waza Ikkyo Katate Dori    
      Kata Dori
  Nikkyo (second principle)  Ai Hanmi Katate Dori 
    Katate Dori 
    Kata Dori 
  Sankyo (third principle) Ai Hanmi Katate Dori 
    Ueshiro Ryote Dori
  Kote Gaeshi (wrist-out-turn)  Ai Hanmi Katate Dori   
    Shomen Uchi
    Katate Dori 
  Shiho Nage  Yokomen Uchi (Angular strike)
  Ude Kimi Nage (under elbow) Ai Hanmi Katate Dori 
    Katate Dori 
    Yokomen Uchi
  Irimi Nage Katate Dori
  Uchi Kaiten Nage (under-rotary-throw) Katate Dori
  Tenchi Nage  Ryote Dori
  Sokumen Irimi Nage (Reverse entering)  Katate Dori
     
Suwari waza      Ikkyo Ai Hanmi Katate Dori
    Shomen Uchi
  Irimi Nage Ai Hanmi Katate Dori
    Shomen Uchi

3rd Kyu - at least 6 months from 4th Kyu

Tachi waza Ikkyo Ryote Dori    
      Kata Ryote Dori
    Ueshiro Ryote Dori
    Yokomen Uchi
  Nikkyo Katate Ryote Dori 
    Ueshiro Ryote Dori 
    Shomen Uchi
    Yokomen Uchi
  Sankyo Shomen Uchi
    Yokomen Uchi
  Yonkyo (fourth principle) Shomen Uchi
    Yokomen Uchi
  Kote Gaeshi Katate Ryote Dori   
    Ueshiro Ryote Dori
    Yokomen Uchi
  Shiho Nage  Ryote Dori
    Ueshiro Ryote Dori
  Ude Kimi Nage Katate Ryote Dori 
    Ueshiro Ryote Dori 
    Yokomen Uchi
  Irimi Nage Ueshiro Ryote Dori
    Yokomen Uchi
  Soto Kaiten Nage (outside-rotary-throw)   Katate Dori
  Sokumen Irimi Nage Katate Ryote Dori
  Kokyu Nage ('breath' throw) Various grasps
     
Suwari waza      Ikkyo Katate Dori
    Kata Dori
  Nikyo Katate Dori
    Kata Dori
    Shomen Uchi
  Sankyo Shomen Uchi
  Yonkyo Shomen Uchi
  Kote Gaeshi Ai Hanmi Katate Dori
     
Hamni Handachi waza   Shiho Nage Katate Dori
(Attacker standing) Uchi Kaiten Nage Katate Dori
  Irimi Nage Shomen Uchi

2nd Kyu - at least 7 months from 3rd Kyu

Tachi waza Ikkyo Kata Dori Men Uchi    
      Ueshiro Ryo Kata Dori
    Ueshiro Ryo Hiji Dori
  Nikyo Kata Dori Men Uchi   
    Ueshiro Ryo Kata Dori
  Sankyo Katate Dori
    Kata Dori
    Kata Dori Men Uchi
    Ueshiro Ryo Kata Dori
  Yonkyo Katate Dori
    Kata Dori
  Gokyo (fifth principle) Yokomen Uchi
  Shiho Nage Kata Dori Men Uchi
    Shomen Uchi
  Irimi Nage Ryote Dori 
    Katate Ryote Dori
    Kata Dori Men Uchi
    Chudan Tsuki
  Kote Gaeshi Ryote Dori   
    Kata Dori Men Uchi
  Uchi Kaiten Nage Shomen Uchi
  Soto Kaiten Nage Shomen Uchi
  Kokyu Nage Various strikes
  Hiji Kimi Osae ('against' elbow)  Jodan Tsuki
  Sumi Otoshi (corner drop) Katate Dori
  Aiki Otoshi ('take knees' drop) Katate Dori
  Koshi Nage (Hip Throw) Ai Hanmi Katate Dori
    Katate Dori
  Juji Garami ('wrap up' elbows) Ueshiro Ryote Dori
  Sokumen Irimi Nage Mae Ryo Kata Dori
    Ueshiro Ryote Dori
    Ueshiro Ryo Kata Dori   
     
Suwari waza      Ikkyo Ryo Kata Dori
    Yokomen Uchi
  Nikyo Ryo Kata Dori
    Yokomen Uchi
  Sankyo Kata Dori
    Yokomen Uchi
  Yonkyo Yokomen Uchi
  Gokyo Katate Dori
  Irimi Nage Katate Dori
    Yokomen Uchi
     
Hamni Handachi waza   Kote Gaeshi Shomen Uchi
(Attacker standing) Shiho Nage Ryote Dori
  Soto Kaiten Nage Katate Dori

1st Kyu - at least 8 months from 2nd Kyu

Tachi waza Ikkyo Ueshiro Eri Dori  
      Jodan Tsuki
    Other situations
  Nikyo Chudan Tsuki 
    Jodan Tsuki
    Other situations
  Sankyo Chudan Tsuki
    Jodan Tsuki
    Other situations
  Yonkyo Other situations
  Gokyo Shomen Uchi
  Kote Gaeshi              Chudan Tsuki
    Ueshiro Eri Dori
    Ueshiro Katate Dori Kubi Shime
  Shiho Nage Muna Dori
    Jodan Tsuki
    Ueshiro Eri Dori
    Ueshiro Katate Dori Kubi Shime  
  Irimi Nage Jodan Tsuki
  Kaiten Nage Jodan Tsuki
    Chudan Tsuki
    various situations
  Jugi Garami Katate Ryote Dori
  Ude Kimi Nage All attacks
  Hiji Kimi Osae  All attacks
  Koshi Nage All attacks
  Sumi Otoshi All possible attacks
     
Suwari waza      Kote Gaeshi Yokomen Uchi
  Gokyo Shomen Uchi
     
Hamni Handachi waza   Ikkyo Shomen Uchi
(Attacker standing) Nikyo Shomen Uchi
    Katate Dori
  Gokyo Shomen Uchi