Welcome to Takemusu Aikido Kai - Bristol
Adult classes are held every Tuesdays, Thursdays (7-9 pm)
Now is the time to start!
Aikido (Ai - harmony, Ki - spirit, energy) is a traditional Japanese martial art that offers no conflict with the attacking force, instead skillfully blends with it using circular movements and techniques of throwing & immobilizations.
Beginning of Takemusu Aikido Kai
Suzuki Toshinobu's introduction to Aikido started with an invite to the Dojo of a great martial arts master in Shinjuku, Tokyo.
As they watched the training session, suddenly the founder of Aikido master Morihei Ueshiba himself appeared in front of him.
Everyone in the dojo was surprised as the training sessions were normally conducted by the lower ranked teachers.
Even more significantly, although he was only there to watch, master Morihei Ueshiba personally welcomed him as a new student and asked his name, which Toshinobu Suzuki hesitantly gave to him.
In this remarkable way Toshinobu Suzuki met Morihei Ueshiba, he therefore felt that he was destined to become Morihei Ueshiba student and started training in earnest.
From the beginning until the founder's passing on April 26, 1969, it seems that over and above the teacher pupil relationship, a deep special personal understanding developed between the two.
Having been accepted by the Master in this way, Toshinobu Suzuki was invited to submit his name to the list of disciples to be trained at the Takemusu Aiki-juku, a separate School directly controlled by Aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba, thus he was trained directly by the Master himself.
With the founder's approval and support, Toshinobu Suzuki under the control of the Aiki-kai established his own Aikido Masakatsu dojo in Kanamachi, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo in April 1970 on the anniversary of the founder's passing.
In 1974 Toshinobu Suzuki moved his dojo to a new location close by and named it Aikido Seishokan dojo.
The following year it became appropriate for Toshinobu Suzuki to invite Kisshomaru Ueshiba, son of the founder the then Head of Aiki-kai dojo to discuss and clarify the future relationship between the two dojos.
As a result of this discussions Toshinobu Suzuki became independent of Aiki-kai with the authorization of Kisshomaru Ueshiba to use the name of Takemusu Aikido-Hombu in the capacity of the Takemusu Aiki-juku teacher who had been personally trained by Aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba.
From 1975 onward Toshinobu Suzuki as the Head of Takemusu Aikido Kai has been training students in the spirit of Takemusu Aikido as directly received from Aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba.
Suzuki Toshinobu continued enthusiastically relating his experiences & relationship with the Aikido's founder to his teachers & students until his passing in 2009 at the age of 91.
Takemusu Aikido Kai successor master Shigeyuki Suzuki has continued the growth & excellent leadership.
The Takemusu Aikido Kai family has spread to other countries, UK, Australia & Brazil.
UK Takemusu Aikido Kai is led by Richard J Simms 8th Dan has been given permission to teach Takemusu Aikido by late head Suzuki Toshinobu since 1989 at the time living in London and has continued at the Takemusu Aikido kai - Bristol dojo.