'Practice
is offered within a very positive
and encouraging environment.'
'It's about developing your own
skills in a safe environment.'
'I tried a few martial arts and
found Aikido intriguing.'
'It's fun
and challenging.'
'Apart from
learning aikido, the training also
allowed me to meet great people and
make friends.’
‘The
physical and mental discipline of
Aikido is powerful and something I'd
like to fully develop as my life
matures.'
'The instructor group are
united, consistent and their
dedication to teaching is inspiring,
all the way to contagious.'
What
we love about Aikido - our Aikido
Reading List of favourite words in a
word cloud:
Aikido in
Reading, Whitton and Chirbury
The
Japanese martial art of Aikido in Powys,
Shropshire and Berkshire
Come along and try Aikido
for yourself at a free taster session
Find out
more about starting
Aikido in Reading Berkshire,
Whitton Knighton Powys or Chirbury near
Welshpool by phoning us or emailing us
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
White Oak Aikido is a
small group of friendly martial arts clubs,
where you're always welcome to come and watch
one of our Aikido
classes and talk to us before you start
training. What's more, your first training
session is free, so you can have a go and see if you'll enjoy Aikido,
whether it's the martial art for you and whether you like the classes
before committing to anything. Martial arts
training at White Oak Aikido in Reading,
Chirbury and Whitton is open to anyone over
the age of 18.
What is
Aikido?
Aikido is a fascinating and
engrossing, traditional Japanese martial art, a
way of self-defence, that makes use of an attacker's
strength, momentum and aggression. Historically, the
techniques of Aikido originate from the throws,
joint locks, sword and staff techniques of the
samurai warrior. Aikido training will also help
you to optimise how you use your body
to maximise your efficiency and power, developing
a deep understanding of how your body works and
how this power can be used most effectively.
Aikido
is a martial art that doesn't rely on you being
stronger, fitter or faster than an attacker, so it can
become a lifelong study. Of course, younger
people will tend to be more active and train
harder and more physically, whilst older people
will tend to train more slowly - either way, our
aim will be to challenge you and push your
boundaries. You'll find that Aikido is a very
flexible martial art, where you'll learn to use a level
of response that's appropriate to you and to the
situation.
Emphasis
in your Aikido training is placed on absorbing
and redirecting the force of an attack, rather
than trying to physically block an attack by a
potentially stronger person. Aikido classes will
teach you the importance of achieving mental
calm and control of your own body in order to
deal with an opponent's attack effectively and,
whenever possible, without causing unnecessary
harm. At one extreme, a form of Aikido is used
by the Tokyo riot police, but unlike some other
martial arts, the ultimate aim of modern Aikido
is to control, rather than to maim or kill an
opponent. Check out our tips on finding the
best martial art for you.
What are
the benefits of Aikido?
Aikido
is a dynamic, expansive martial art, in which you'll
develop fitness, suppleness, good posture and
co-ordination. Your self-confidence will also
increase as you train in Aikido and, as your
co-ordination and balance improve, you'll work
on being more present in your body and on
occupying your personal space. Aikido training
helps you to identify your personal boundaries
and gives you the skills to defend them. As you
train in Aikido and gain confidence in your
skills, you'll
be able to move away from adrenaline-fuelled
'flight or fight' reactions and instead choose
to respond in the manner most appropriate to the
situation. The same Aikido approach can be
extended to non-physical conflict resolution.
Modern
living tends to make us wary of physical
contact. As well as developing your own body,
Aikido training will help you to work in close
contact with another person in scenarios where
physical contact is at its most
threatening. Aikido classes offer
you the opportunity to express yourself freely
through movement. The absence of physical and
mental tension and resistance, which we
emphasise in our Aikido classes, can help you
to release any ingrained constraints in your
body and your movement. Aikido can help you to
face any fear of confrontation you may have
and to learn a new way of resolving conflict.
Training in Aikido will develop your physical
relaxation, mental calmness and awareness, so
you can respond freely to what occurs. Regular
training in Aikido helps you to become centred
and grounded and, therefore, better able to
deal with the stresses of daily life.
White
Oak Aikido - Our Lineage and Affiliation
White Oak Aikido in Reading Berkshire
was founded in
1991, based at the YMCA Reading and
now at Caversham Heights Methodist Church
Hall. We carry on an Aikido tradition in
Reading which was first established in 1969
at Reading
University, under the auspices of Haydn
Foster Sensei (7th Dan), one of the
great pioneers of Aikido in the UK in the
1950s. In 2023, we established our dojo
in Whitton near Knighton, Powys, close to the
borders of Shropshire and Herefordshire, while
our Chirbury dojo opened in 2025, serving the
Welshpool, Newtown, Church Stoke area on the
England / Wales border.
Our
senior
instructor was a direct student of Haydn
Foster Sensei for some 27 years. All our
instructors are recognised as coaches
by the British Aikido Board, the national
governing body for Aikido in the UK. We teach a
traditional style of Aikido incorporating
empty-handed techniques, the bokken and the jo
- take
a look at our vision here.
Watch
our Aikido video here!
Not what you'll be doing
when you start, but sometimes our more
senior grades like to show off a bit!
Find out
more about getting involved in the martial art
of Aikido in Chirbury, Whitton and
Reading: Info
for Beginners - some more details about
Aikido and what to expect if you come along to our
Reading Berkshire, Chirbury Shropshire or Whitton
Powys dojos.
Or please Contact
us if you have any questions about Aikido
classes in Chirbury, Reading or Whitton.
YouTube for White Oak Aikido Whitton, Chirbury and
Reading
Martial
arts training at our Aikido dojo in Caversham.
Beginners are always welcome to come along and
watch a training session or to join in for a
free taster session - please book to come and
give Aikido a go! Easily accessible from Emmer
Green, Burghfield, Calcot, Coley, Katesgrove,
Southcote, Theale, Tilehurst, Fords Farm, Holy
Brook, Norcot, Newtown, Lower Earley, Kennet
Island, Green Park Village, Whitley Wood,
Woodley, Pangbourne, Purley on Thames and
Thatcham.
Martial arts training at Whitton Aikido
Knighton Wales. We're on the Welsh /
English border, so if you're looking for
Aikido in Shropshire, Aikido in Herefordshire
or Aikido in Powys, we're in the corner of
Powys, right on the border with Shropshire and
Herefordshire, making Aikido easy to get to
from Leominster, Craven Arms, Kington,
Presteigne, Wigmore, Leintwardine, Bucknell,
Shobdon, Pembridge, Kingsland, Aymestrey,
Clun, Llandrindod Wells, Evenjobb, Letton,
Ludlow, Staunton on Arrow and all the
surrounding towns and villages.
And our newest dojo in Chirbury
is on the Shropshire / Powys border, so if
you're searching for Aikido in Newtown, Aikido
in Churchstoke or Aikido in Welshpool, White
Oak Aikido is easily accessible from
Llandyssil, Abermule, Garthmyl, Refail,
Forden, Nantcribba, Hyssington, Leighton and
all the nearby towns and villages.
Find out
more about 
is a fascinating and
engrossing, traditional Japanese martial art, a
way of self-defence, that makes use of an attacker's
strength, momentum and aggression. Historically, the
techniques of Aikido originate from the throws,
joint locks, sword and staff techniques of the
samurai warrior. Aikido training will also help
you to optimise how you use your body
to maximise your efficiency and power, developing
a deep understanding of how your body works and
how this power can be used most effectively.
Aikido
is a dynamic, expansive martial art, in which you'll
develop fitness, suppleness, good posture and
co-ordination. Your self-confidence will also
increase as you train in Aikido and, as your
co-ordination and balance improve, you'll work
on being more present in your body and on
occupying your personal space. Aikido training
helps you to identify your personal boundaries
and gives you the skills to defend them. As you
train in Aikido and gain confidence in your
skills, you'll
be able to move away from adrenaline-fuelled
'flight or fight' reactions and instead choose
to respond in the manner most appropriate to the
situation. The same Aikido approach can be
extended to non-physical conflict resolution. 
White Oak Aikido in Reading Berkshire
was founded in
1991, based at the YMCA Reading and
now at Caversham Heights Methodist Church
Hall. We carry on an Aikido tradition in
Reading which was first established in 1969
at 
