Monday Motivation - #ActiveLockleaze Project - Spotlight On

As part of our partnership project #ActiveLockleaze we like to feature regular posts for our Monday Motivation or Spotlight On section.

This is just one of the ways we promote physical activities and sports opportunities in Lockleaze. By sharing participants & personal stories we aim to inspire and motivate and encourage all residents to lead more active lives.

This week we focus on Bristol North Aikido Dojo - Lessons in Lockleaze.

Introducing myself, I’m Daren Sims, Senior Instructor in Bristol North Aikido with 31 years in Aikido and a grade of 6th Dan.

We started in Lockleaze in September 2020, almost 3 years ago. We moved up from our previous home which closed permanently due to Covid and relocated not knowing how Aikido would be accepted in Lockleaze.

The main barrier is that Aikido is fairly unknown compared to other martial arts. Unlike competition arts where you learn to win or beat an opponent, Aikido has a more defensive mindset and is more about not losing and avoiding conflict or trouble.

Without trophies and the publicity surrounding winners of sports Aikido stays in the quieter areas of activity only occasionally getting noticed as it did in theSteven Segal era of the 1990s.

It can easily be overlooked as potential students don’t realise the benefits it offers or just assume it is a stereotypical fight club and not for them.

So what is it and what are those benefits?

Well - it is still a martial art which has evolved from the sword work & jujitsu of Japan. It offers all the benefits associated with learning martial skills and like all things, the quality of those benefits depends on what you put in.

Further though, the nature of Aikido practice is collaborative. You work with a partner not an opponent which means the intensity of training can match each individual. No need to be big, strong or sporty. Anyone can do it as long as you can stand up and move your body a little.

Results & progress are different for each individual and the way everyone works together means we can attract students that have never before been interested in any similar activity as well as those that love all sports.

Regular practice leads to improved fitness, coordination, balance and strength.

Attending class brings in the social benefits of working with others. Purpose & enjoyment.

Fun, Fitness & Friends is my strap-line and I see this every week.

Finally - we are all part of the Dojo. A sense of belonging and a group of friends to meet every week comes with being part of the Dojo. With growing awareness of mental health this is yet another benefit.

Overall Aikido is a package that is a great introduction to martial arts. For the rare few its a stepping stone to more intense training such as Bristol UFC Fighter Nad Narimani who moved on from Aikido through Jujitsu to life as a professional fighter but for most people its a martial art and interest to participate in alongside normal life.

For many its the one thing they take to when they have no interest in other sports, for others like myself its something to keep me active now I’m too old for football.

Overall our club is doing very well. We’ve received great support from the children of Lockleaze and have some brilliant & enthusiastic members. I also teach in Trinity School and have seen students from the school join our Dojo and I also have year 6 students looking forward to joining the school group when they start senior school.

Our Adults group is building too so all in all we are very happy in Lockleaze and feel part of the community.

How can you find out more? Is it for you? Well, you never know unless you try. With classes for 4 age groups (5 to 7 years, 8 to 11 years, 12 to 17 years & Adults) we have something for most people and our classes grow as our students age.

We hold regular gradings to test progress of students and we have seen plenty of growth from our Lockleaze based pupils over the last few years.

With age appropriate games for younger students and more serious practice for older ones there is plenty of variety to keep things interesting and all of our Instructors are continually training and looking to improve.

Still reading? If you are interested check us out. New members are always welcome.

Website: www.bnad.org

Facebook : Bristol North Aikido

Telephone: 07941 257940

Thanks,

Daren

To discover more exciting activities in Lockleaze explore here;