Description

The Aikido Circle was founded in 1975 under the direction of Mr. Allen Beecham who began his Aikido career in 1966 studying extensively under Chiba Shihan. The Aikido Circle began teaching traditional Aikido in London. In 1984 the Aikido Circle joined an “umbrella group” which provided access to tuition by Tamura Shihan and the teachings of Saito Shihan. In 1989 Mr. Beecham “retired” from Aikido and Mr. Paul Barker, who has been practising Aikido for more than thirty years, drawing inspiration from Tamura Shihan, Saito Shihan, and Chiba Shihan, took over as Chief Instructor. In 1993 the Aikido Circle became an independent Association again, with Dojos in London, Essex, Kent, Sussex and now Australia. Mr Michael Brent  studied Ishin Ryu Karate for 6 years under Ticky Donovan, 8th DAN, (currently The English Team Manager in Karate), and then Sensei Michael Brent took another path, in the art of Aikido. Sensei Brent has been studying and continuing his training under Sensei Barker for 8 years and is now carrying on these traditions laid out by Sensei Paul Barker in Australia.Traditional Aikido, with emphasis placed on practical techniques. Weapons practice plays an important role in day to day training and the creation of an independent weapons syllabus has provided students with the opportunity to further develop their knowledge. The Aikido Circle’s traditional values remain as strongly today as they did in 1975 with particular attention to basic technique, discipline and etiquette.