Southern Schools of Aikido

Our general training is formatted much like that of a standard class as conducted in our dojo. Sessions run for 60mins and are attended by any person with some familiarity of Aikido. Techniques are demonstrated and participants follow along repeating what they have been shown. The convenience of training in your own space at a dedicated time each week.

Class runs: 7-8pm Wednesday Evenings and is open to all people with some prior Aikido experience.

If you are fortunate enough to have people in your household weather they are family, partners or friends we offer Aikido to these people as a partnered practice just as would normally be trained inside a dojo. Classes are 60mins and are conducted by a teacher and partner and techniques are demonstrated and explained for the participants at home. Optimally, someone in the household would have some knowledge of Aikido but is not essential. This class is a great way to build strong, harmonious relations inside of your home.

Class runs: 7-8pm Monday Evenings

A session for the more advanced and practiced Aikidoka and Sensei around the World. Deep examination of techniques and philosophical ideas presented in Aikido with an emphasis on continual training for 60mins

Requirements:

Open to Black Belt Aikidoka Only.

Must have minimum Shodan in Aikido.

Personal Recommendation via a current trainee

Or

Previous contact made through Sensei Scott Eggenton.

Open to ANY association of Aikido around the Globe.

Class runs: 1-2pm Saturday Afternoons

Training is formatted much like that of a standard Juniors class as run in our dojo. Sessions run for 45mins and are attended by any Junior aged 10 - 15yo with some familiarity of Aikido. Techniques are demonstrated and participants follow along repeating what they have been shown. The convenience of training in their own space at a dedicated time each week.

Class runs: 4.30 - 5.15pm Tuesday Evenings

Open to anyone wishing to advance the absolute quickest way in the online format is to take up 1:1 Personal Training or singular household personal training. Exclusive private tuition tailored to each persons need.

Two options available: 45mins or 60mins

Highly recommended for absolute beginners to get the foundations and basics down and for current aikidoka to enhance their skill level.

Sessions run at a mutually agreeable time.

A dedicated once a week class specifically for people with absolutely no prior knowledge or experience of Aikido. A set structure to gain a "Taste of Aikido"

Covering the history and philosophy of Aikido.

Fundamental movement principles.

Basic techniques.

Meditations and breathing exercises.

Perfect to become conversant with techniques performed through a digital platform and a solid foundation to continue further training in Aikido.

Sessions run at a mutually agreeable time.

Our online zoom sessions are set up with an instructor (Usually Scott Sensei) teaching Aikido forms that facilitate understanding in the basics of techniques. Instruction in 2 of the major weapons, sword and staff, may also be given. The instructor will demonstrate what is to be performed to which zoom attendees will follow along and repeat what has been shown. Instruction will be given to individuals if needed and any questions that may arise will be answered. Sessions typically have a duration of 45 - 60mins dependent on the type of session being conducted. The platform is open before and after sessions for students to socialize and ask questions freely.

Whilst our face to face classes have been temporarily cancelled we are happy to offer a 30min, 1 on 1 Online zoom session for $20 for those who are curious and wanting to give it a go. This will give you a first hand experience of our Aikido at a very affordable and manageable price point. For other pricing for our alternative training sessions, please contact us directly through our contact page.

Trainees will typically wear a heavy, woven, white cotton dogi (traditional Japanese training uniform) and as a beginner a white obi (belt). If this is your first time training in Aikido a white tee shirt and athletic sports pants are acceptable. In a dojo environment training is conducted in bare feet. Online zoom sessions can be more relaxed and socks are permitted along with white tee and sports pants.

Embracing Online zoom sessions is certainly the best way to go about training with Southern Schools of Aikido if you do not live in Melbourne or even Australia. We offer sessions for people Internationally and Australia wide willing to give our Martial Art - Aikido a go. Finding many Australians from around the globe loving the re-connect they have with an Australian Aiki family that truly is International Aikido!

Absolutely! The art itself is designed to be practiced by everyone. Each person doing Aikido will walk their own path through Aikido. Females generally tend to have to work harder at being technically proficient compared to men who can use other masculine attributes to assist them if comparisons are made between males and females.

This perception of Aikido is generally pushed by people that have no real depth of experience or insightful understandings of Aikido claiming that in a 'street fight' or a fight against a 'trained fighter' Aikido would not work and the Aikidoist would 'have their ass kicked'. displays two things, a severe lack of intellect on behalf of those making that claim, or if they are correct in their summation, then a severe lack of skill by the practitioner of Aikido displaying it. Either way any incompetence viewed as Aikido is not Aikido's fault but people doing it or viewing it. The art itself is very sound and robust as a form of martial arts.

Yes, our children's classes run through the Vic school term from ages 6yo and above. Gradings are generally held twice a year and most children would grade twice a year in the beginning stages provided consistent and dedicated training is achieved. Please note our training schedule has altered due to covid19 and we currently offer Online zoom sessions for our juniors.

Any age is a great age to begin Aikido, view the testimonial video of Stephen's journey so far. You must be in good physical and mental health to join Southern Schools of Aikido. The art really does not have an upper age limit as to when to start, the eldest student known to have started Aikido was 86 years old and was taught by Scott Eggenton Sensei some years back. The class structure is very accommodating to all beginners or levels. The lower age limit at SSA is 6 years old.

Firstly none of the Instructors at SSA are trained or qualified to teach anyone that may have special requirements to any form of learning. However, Martial arts training may be beneficial to children with Autism or ADD or the like but all circumstances must be considered by parents, students and teachers to take into account school policies, class structures and capabilities of teachers, current students and child before enrollment into a martial arts school.