Step onto an aikido mat
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Aikido is a Japanese martial art of throws and joint immobilisations that use an attacker's momentum, created in the 1920s by Morihei Ueshiba. Traditional aikido has always been non-competitive, so you train with partners rather than against opponents.
Moderate£100 to £500 / $130 to $650MonthsIndoorsWith othersUK and US
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What a first class is like
At Notting Hill Aikikai in London, adult beginners start with a short warm-up, then learn footwork and movement on the mat, practise how to roll and fall safely (ukemi), and study a few basic techniques. Its three-month beginners' package moves from basics in weeks 1 to 3 to recognising techniques in weeks 9 to 12, after which students are usually ready for their first grading.
Ukemi takes up half your training. BigRock Aikikai, a club in Calgary, describes it as attacking and then receiving the throw or pin, and says half of your practice time goes to it. More advanced falls, such as tobi ukemi, are for senior students only.
Tenzan Aikido in Seattle runs an ongoing Aikido for Beginners class that teaches three fundamental techniques step by step, starting with a warm-up and ending with five minutes of meditation.
The British Aikido Board says personal accident insurance is required for everyone who trains, so ask your club how it is arranged.
Ways in compared
| Where | Format | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| Notting Hill Aikikai, London | Beginners' package, 3 months, up to 2 classes a week, uniform included | £250; £200 concessions |
| London Aikikai, North Maida Vale, London | 90-minute classes; try two training days at the pay-per-class rate | £12 a class (£10 concession); £75 a month unlimited; £40 compulsory annual membership including liability insurance (fees page last updated September 2021) |
| Tenzan Aikido, Seattle | Intro package of one private lesson and one group class | $89; then $175 a month unlimited; uniform $75 |
London Aikikai's concession rate covers under-18s, full-time students and retired people over 65.
How to start
- Find a club through the British Aikido Board, the UK governing body, or a national federation such as the US Aikido Federation, and check it runs adult beginners' classes.
- Book a trial class; dojos (training halls) such as Notting Hill Aikikai offer one, and London Aikikai lets newcomers try two training days at the pay-per-class rate.
- Wear clothes that cover your elbows and knees (Tenzan Aikido asks for long sleeves and trousers), tie back long hair and leave jewellery at home; you train barefoot on the mat.
Where to go
- British Aikido Board: what is aikido, beginners and club search UK
- Notting Hill Aikikai: adult beginners (London) UK
- United States Aikido Federation: about the federation (dojo list on its site) US
- Tenzan Aikido: getting started (Seattle) US
We opened these links on 11 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
Plan this
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Plan it with dates
Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. Courses and classes have start dates and can fill up, so the plan begins with finding and booking one. Kit comes after the first session, once you know what you need.
Questions people ask
Is aikido competitive?
Traditional aikido is non-competitive, the British Aikido Board says, though some styles, such as Tomiki aikido, have added competitive elements.
What do you wear to your first aikido class?
Notting Hill Aikikai asks for tracksuit bottoms or leggings and a T-shirt, not shorts, because much of the training is on the knees. You train barefoot with hair tied back and jewellery removed.
What is ukemi in aikido?
Ukemi means receiving a technique, by attacking and then taking the throw or pin, and includes learning to roll and fall safely.
How much do aikido classes cost?
Notting Hill Aikikai lists a three-month beginners' package at £250. Tenzan Aikido in Seattle lists an $89 introduction and $175 a month for adults.
Where this comes from: British Aikido Board, What is aikido; Notting Hill Aikikai, Adults; Notting Hill Aikikai, Book a class; London Aikikai, Fees; London Aikikai, Information for Beginners; BigRock Aikikai, Attacking and Falling Safely; Tenzan Aikido, Getting Started; United States Aikido Federation, About USAF; United States Aikido Federation, Aikido. Opened 11 November 2026.
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