Slough Aikido
Paul Shepherd
TRADITIONAL AIKIDO CLASS
About the instructor
Paul began his Aikido practice in 1977 at Slough Aikido Club and Oxford where he gained his Shodan with Kenetsuka Sensei in 1987.
A great influence in Paul’s life has been Mr. Smith and in 1989 Paul became a member of the West Midlands Aikikai, later the UKA.
In 1991 Paul graded to Midan with Chiba Sensei, and in 1997 Sandan with Mr. Smith. He has been Fuku Shidoin (Assistant National Coach) since 1988 and also has British Aikido Board Recognition as Coach and Children’s Coach.
Paul has been privileged to train with a number of Japanese Sensei’s during his 25 years (so far) practicing Aikido, among them are Chiban Shihan, Shibata, Tamura, Asai, Kitura, Saito, Sugano, Fujita, Ikeda, Kanetsuka, one of the highlights being Moriteru Ueshiba at Summer School 1992.
In more recent years Paul’s Aikido has not only been influenced by some great Japanese Senseis but also by 6th dan Peter Brady and when the UKA House System began, Slough Aikido Club affiliated to Myo Shin Juku House headed by Brady Sensei.
About the class
Aikido is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba as a synthesis of his martial studies, philosophy, and religious beliefs.
Aikido is often translated as “the Way of unifying (with) life energy”[1] or as “the Way of harmonious spirit.
Ueshiba’s goal was to create an art that practitioners could use to defend themselves while also protecting their attacker from injury.
Aikido is performed by blending with the motion of the attacker and redirecting the force of the attack rather than opposing it head-on.
This requires very little physical energy, as the aikidōka (aikido practitioner) “leads” the attacker’s momentum using entering and turning movements.
The techniques are completed with various throws or joint locks.[3] Aikido can be categorized under the general umbrella of grappling arts.
Aikido derives mainly from the martial art of Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu, but began to diverge from it in the late 1920s, partly due to Ueshiba’s involvement with the Ōmoto-kyō religion.
Ueshiba’s early students’ documents bear the term aiki-jūjutsu.[4] Many of Ueshiba’s senior students have different approaches to aikido, depending on when they studied with him.
Today aikido is found all over the world in a number of styles, with broad ranges of interpretation and emphasis.
However, they all share techniques learned from Ueshiba and most have concern for the well-being of the attacker.
This attitude has been at the core of criticisms of aikido and related arts.
Paul Shepherd
07816 160 087