What is aikido?
and why choose Yoshinkan style
Aikido was founded byMorihei Ueshiba during the early part of the 20th century and one of his most gifted students wasGozo Shioda. After the war, Shioda went on to establish a very practical approach to Aikido which became systematized asYoshinkan Aikido. This is the style practiced at the Aikido Durham dojo as well as all of the Aikido Yoshinkai Canada family of schools.
Yoshinkan Aikido is a defensive martial art designed to teach the principles of blending with the power of an attacker’s movements in order to control their movements with minimal effort.
Aikido’s roots are developed from sword movements and designed originally to provide defence for the Samurai without a weapon.
This is the same style that is taught to the Tokyo Riot Police and other elite Defence Forces around the world. As with any martial arts system, students must train consistently to be able to use their skills with confidence, effectiveness, and safety. The techniques of Aikido are designed so that students can protect themselves and, to some extent, protect their attackers by neutralizing their aggression.
aikido yoshinkai canada
The Aikido Yoshinkai Canada network of schools, is a unified organization led by Kimeda Sensei. Each school is directed by one of Sensei’s top ranking students. All with a common goal of providing unparallelled instruction in Aikido for all of the students within the community.
Aikido Durham
Whitby, ON
Moore Sensei
5th Dan
AYC Headquarters
Hamilton, ON
Kimeda Sensei
9th Dan Hanshi
Shindokan
Oakville, ON
Johnston Sensei
7th Dan Shihan
AYC Ottawa
Ottawa, ON
de Groot Sensei
5th Dan
why aikido durham
Aikido Durham is the premier dojo for AYC Aikido in the East end of the the Greater Toronto Area. Our school provides expert instruction for students looking for martial arts in the Whitby, Ajax, Oshawa, Uxbridge, Bowmanville, Clarington and Port Perry. We also hold weekly meditation workshops for anyone looking for a space to study these practices as part of a community.
We are committed to providing a safe and supportive atmosphere for students who want to learn martial arts in a non-competive environment.
If you think Yoshinkan Aikido might be for you, come and try a classes for FREE! Contact us to arrange your personal introduction or drop by the dojo to watch a class and have your questions answered.
We look forward to hearing from you and being a part of your martial arts journey!
Aikido as a martial art
Aikido is an extremely effective self-defence art that is both non-competitive and non-aggressive. It does not meet force with resistance or brute strength. Instead it redirects an aggressor’s force with well-timed, flowing, circular movements. In this way, rather than relying on one’s strength to overpower an attacker, their own movements and momentum are utilized to compromise their balance and stability. Once they are unbalanced, the attacker is subdued or dealt with through the a wide range of joint locks, pins or throws.
Although Aikido itself is considered a modern martial art, it has roots and traditions that are extremely old. Today, this deep history continues to be studied and maintained and this brings traditional Japanese insights to today’s
In Aikido there are no competitions, no tournaments and no trophies to win. On a physical level the focus is on self-protection rather than fighting. On a personal level the focus is on achieving victory over oneself rather than victory over the opponent.
why meditation
The internal mechanisms of the body are just as important to develop and maintain as the external muscles. Meditation can help to improve your overall health and wellness.
As the breath flows rhythmically, it becomes a conduit for releasing the held energy within. Picture each exhale as a gentle breeze, gradually dissipating the knots of stress that have woven themselves into our physical being. This mindful release not only serves as a momentary reprieve but also cultivates an ongoing practice of self-care.
How Meditation Benefits Your Mind and Body
While meditation is well known as a technique to reduce stress and anxiety, it may also help enhance your mood, promote healthy sleep patterns, and boost cognitive skills.
Meditation: A simple, fast way to reduce stress
Meditation can wipe away the day’s stress, bringing with it inner peace. See how you can easily learn to practice meditation whenever you need it most.
If stress has you anxious, tense and worried, you might try meditation. Spending even a few minutes in meditation can help restore your calm and inner peace.
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7 Ways Meditation Can Actually Change The Brain
Agatsu – Mindfulness in Martial Arts
Allowing the mind to attach to these thought patterns during training is teaching the mind “ego building” habits. Just as we would coach a child who throws a tantrum wanting candy, we must train our mind to stay in the present and not give in to what it wants.
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