Aikido Circle - About Us

Sensei Paul Barker (6TH DAN) AikidoCircle
Chief Instructor, Head Examiner, Technical Director

What we Practice

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.
We train in Traditional Aikido and Iwama Ryu weapons as the Technical Aikido Basic System.
We practice a lot of Shoji Nishio Sensei's style of Aikido and his weapons extensively. We have to grade in Shoji Nishio Sensei's approach/techniques.
We practice the Shoji Nishio Sensei's AIKI TOHO IAI which he has slightly modified in the Iai Nishio Sensei learned to fit in with Aikido Techniques.

History of the Aikido Circle

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, and Sussex.
One of Sensei's senior student has opened a branch of the Aikido Circle (Australia) in Australia.

Message from Paul Barker Sensei (Chief Instructor)

Dear Students Old and New,

As you may or may not know a short while ago I embarked on a new path in Aikido, which in my mind is one of the best systems I have practised in my thirty two years in Aikido. The reason I have embarked on this system, is I feel that most Aikido being taught in dojos today is nothing more than a set of dance like exercises and although very enjoyable, have very little to do with martial arts. O'Sensei did not invent a dance, but a true martial art, an art of peace. I'm afraid that most aikidoka have taken the art of peace to extreme and now Aikido does not live in the real world. I feel if only a few stay true, the art will not die. However this also does not mean Aikido is about street fighting, in fact you should do everything in your power not to use Aikido in it's physical form. This style, although martial, does not mean it loses its beauty or flowing movement, it is just as graceful as before, but it is now effective.

“It also reinforces what I have always thought, that Aikido is very much an integral art of sword, stick and body. I know some schools practice very little or no weapons training. I feel this is a mistake. Bokken practice in particular teaches you both focus and balance. Creating stable and strong hips and crispness of technique. Jo practice teaches you the principle of Irimi and fluidity of movement. That is why we must all practice and teach in this way and why so our gradings reflect this. All gradings will continue to be based on this principle of training, which should not be a problem to most of you as you as you are adjusting and coming along really well in this system."

Paul Barker Sensei (5th DAN) (Chief Instructor)