| Sundays 16.30 to 19.00 |
Aberdeen University Club Regular Class / Term Time (University of Aberdeen students/staff only) |
Butchart Gym |
|---|---|---|
| Mondays 19.30 to 21.30 |
Main Aberdeen Club Regular Class |
The Beach Leisure Centre |
| Tuesdays 20.15 to 22.15 |
Aberdeen University Club Regular Class / Term Time (University of Aberdeen students/staff only) |
Butchart Gym |
| Wednesdays 14.00 to 16.00 |
Robert Gordon University Club Regular Class / Term Time (Robert Gordon University students/staff only) |
Studio 1 at RGU Sport - Garth Dee Sports Centre |
| Thursdays 19.00 to 21.00 |
Main Aberdeen Club Seniors Class |
The Beach Leisure Centre |
Sessions are £6, or £5 for students/unemployed. Alternatively you can pay via a monthly standing order, please see the membership costs section for more information.
Aberdeen University and Robert Gordon University Club charges are dfferent from the main Aberdeen Club charges, please see the membership costs section for more information.
Yes, for insurance purposes after your third training session you need to become a member of Banyu Hatten Aikido Yuishinkai, membership currently costs £30 per year ask the instructor for a form.
No, practice is always done at your own individual level, the more you attend, the quicker you'll progress. However you shouldn't feel like you need to progress at the same rate as everyone else, your development is what's important not other peoples. You will always be taught at your own individual level and encouraged to learn in whatever way is most appropriate for you, the student.
Loose fitting clothing and no jewellery, Aikido is practiced in bare feet. Later on (usually because you'll be tired of getting your t-shirts stretched into odd shapes) Aikido training is done in a uniform called a keikogi or 'gi' for short. These are available from the club just ask the instructor or a committee member about buying one.
No, beginners are always welcome at any time of year.
Yes. We recognise all aikido grades awarded, no matter by whom. Should you wish to test for your next level in rank however you will be required to learn our syllabus, and all of the ones for the preceeding ranks.
Aikido club gradings take place throughout the year in September, December, March and May at the Club's main training venue of the Beach Leisure Centre. If you are wanting to grade you need to ask the club instructor about it and they will decide if you are going to be able to grade. The principal of Banyu Hatten Aikido Yuishinkai, Geoff Flather Sensei makes regular trips to Aberdeen to teach and grade students. To grade you must be a member of Banyu Hatten Aikido Yuishinkai which is the national governing body to which the Aberdeen Aikido club is affiliated, membership of BHAY currently costs £30 per year.
Some styles of Aikido do not use coloured belts, others do but have different colours for different grades, in Aikido the grading system usually comprises of about half a dozen kyu grades (with coloured belts) and then between 8 and 10 Dan grades with black belts.
In Banyu Hatten Aikido Yuishinkai we use the following belt system:
| Colour of belt | Level | Type of grade | Uniform |
|---|---|---|---|
| White belt | 6th Kyu | General grade | Keikogi only |
| Yellow belt | 5th Kyu | General grade | Keikogi only |
| Orange belt | 4th Kyu | General grade | Keikogi only |
| Green belt | 3rd Kyu | Senior grade | Women may wear a hakama at this grade |
| Blue belt | 2nd Kyu | Senior grade | Women may wear a hakama at this grade |
| Brown belt | 1st Kyu | Senior grade | Women may wear a hakama at this grade |
| Black belt | 1st Dan, 2nd Dan etc... | Dan grade | All at this grade wear a hakama |
Different styles and organisations have different ranking systems for instructors, in Banyu Hatten Aikido instructor rank is dealt with separately from normal rank, so a black belt isn't necessarily an instructor and an instructor need not be a black belt.
In Banyu Hatten Aikido the instructor ranks in order are as follows:
Kyosei-ho:- General instructor, may submit students for grading up to 3rd Kyu Green belt
Kyoshi-ho:- Senior instructor, may submit students for grading up to 1st kyu Brown belt
Sensei:- Teacher of Aikido, may submit students for black belt gradings.
The instructor ranks of Kyosei-ho and Kyoshi-ho are not titles and an instructor would not be addressed as Kyosei-ho or Kyoshi-ho. Once as instructor has attained the rank of Sensei however it is proper to address them as Sensei whilst on the mat.
