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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.
StyleTraditional 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.
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 dojo's 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 aikido has 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, I feel this is a mistake, but I am not concerned with other schools of Aikido, my only concern is with the Aikido Circle. That is why we must all practice and teach in this way so our grading's reflect this. As of now, grading's are to be taken in this new form, which should not prove to be a problem to most of you as you are adjusting and coming along really well in this system.
Australia
Sensei Michael Brent (2nd DAN) Aikido Circle ( Australia ) United Kingdom Sensei
Paul Barker (6th DAN)
Aikido Circle
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