Isshinkai London Aikido Dojo

Join us for classes every Tuesday at 7.30pm in Vauxhall, central London, taught by 5th Dan, Adam Cooper Sensei.

All ages and abilities - including beginners - are welcome!

You can also start learning and practising NOW in our Virtual Dojo

What to expect

If you can find us (tucked away at the back of a community centre practically under a railway bridge in Vauxhall!) you can expect a warm welcome.

With us, there’s no fitness requirement, you don’t need to have the flexibility of a gymnast and there’s no age limit (although we don’t have classes for under-18s… at the moment!).

You'll be looked after - someone friendly will be on hand to show you what to do and where to go.

And here's something you might not expect: practising with our more senior students is empowering. They know how to help you feel what the practice should be like and you’ll come away feeling more capable, not less.

Knowing stuff… like Japanese terminology, or knowing anything about martial arts, isn’t needed. And there's no pressure to get things "right"… or commit to anything beyond trying a class.

We run structured classes which are designed to help you progress. You’ll discover you are capable of more than you thought!

You can expect to leave class feeling more energised, calmer and better than when you arrived.

The hardest part really is just finding us the first time!

Class Times

Classes are taught on Tuesdays, 7.30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Please arrive at 7:15 p.m. to allow time to change and setup the dojo in time for the class to start at 7:30 p.m.

Membership Fees

As a visitor, we charge £25 for a class. This is limited to 3 classes after which you must become a Club Member and an Isshinkai Member to continue to practice with us.

Club Membership is then £75 per calendar month (conditional on a valid Isshinkai Membership). 

You can find out more about Isshinkai Membership here or by clicking the button on the right.

The Teachers

What to wear

Just bring a loose, clean set of clothes that you can move around in freely to change into at the dojo. A long sleeved top is recommended. You'll be practising on a clean mat and we don't want to bring clothes we've been wearing in the street, or all day, onto it. 

We don’t recommend shorts, clothes that constrict movement, or track suits with zips on the legs or sleeves. 

Please also bring a pair of flip-flops or sandals to get you from the changing facilities to the side of the mat whilst keeping your feet clean. We step from these directly onto the mat so as to not bring dirt onto the mat with us.

Once you’ve decided you want to continue practicing, We wear a white kit (called a Gi). And off the mat we wear Zori (Japanese flip-flop sandals).    We won’t expect you to have these, but if you do have these already, you are welcome to bring them with you.

We have changing facilities where you can safely leave your things during the class.

Our London dojo is based on Glasshouse Walk, in the Vauxhall Gardens Community Centre. 

The dojo is at the back of the building on the ground floor: take the short flight of stairs up to the right as you enter, then go straight down the hall to the end and you’ll find a door on the left which will take you to the hall, down another short flight of stairs.

There are also signs to the hall which you can follow.

Please make your way through into the hall where you’ll be very welcome.

Isshinkai Aikido - Central London Aikido Dojo

Vauxhall Gardens Community Centre
5 Glasshouse Walk,
Lambeth,
London
SE11 5ES

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Want to know more about our Aikido?

You can find out more about Isshinkai Aikido here.