About

History

It was originally known as the Croydon Martial Center but as we began to follow a more traditional path it was renamed as Seishinryu Budo, which means the School of Spiritual Arts. There were sections of Aikido, Judo, Jujitsu, Kendo, Iaido, Muy Thai, Wu Shu, and related arts. Open six days a week it soon became a popular venue to practice a martial art of choice. I also ran Aikido classes in other venues and several colleges and schools. But in the nineties, the government began to change its policy and began drastic cutbacks. The subsidies we relied on were eventually stopped which led to closures and it was through the dedication and commitment of a few members we managed to survive to this day.

However, COVID made things even harder struggling to maintain even one session. Today, Aikido has lost its popularity and perhaps even misunderstood. People find it hard to comprehend that this is an art of peace and harmony and prefer a more competitive and aggressive martial art.

At the moment, our numbers are low but the dedicated few seem determined to preserve the traditions, culture, and philosophy of Aikido.

Who we are...

Leaving the Sir Philip Game Center after fifty-five years we managed to keep going with the help of a local scouting venue but access was difficult and we began to struggle with numbers. Fortunately, Ashburton Hall came to our rescue. However, starting from scratch is proving difficult. Circumstances have kept several core members away and now we need a few more members to keep afloat. New members are welcome to join us and begin a challenging yet fun journey to a way of life that promotes health and well-being. Practising Aikido gives confidence and self-awareness. It is ideal for dealing with stress and aggressive situations. Young and old practice together in a warm and friendly environment. Even those with certain disabilities can practice with confidence.

We invite you to visit and see for yourself.

Keith Nicholas Rokudan Renshi

Sensei started martial arts at the age of twelve, at the Sir Philip Game Boys Club and in the late seventies took over teaching Judo. In time Aikido, Jujitsu, and Kendo were introduced and later on, other martial arts sections were brought in to cater to different tastes. Although now with hardly any mobility and other health issues, Sensei still teaches. Using the experiences of many years in a multitude of martial ways an alternative art was created that focuses on the essence of the arts, such as breathing, posture, vitality, strength, and flexibility. This allows the more mature person to indulge and maintain a healthy lifestyle. The name "Body Harmony" seemed appropriate and is growing in popularity, with even other social groups and community agencies sending people. Local health centers have also shown an interest and encouraged some of their patients to attend.

What is Aikido?

Ai = love, ki = spirit, do= path or way, so it is the path of love and harmony. The techniques are derived from the ancient jujitsu forms but rather than thinking of their physical application we must look into the warriors' souls and hearts and understand their concept of life. Rather than meeting conflict head-on one must accept the energy and blend with the flow. One trains not to overcome but to work in harmony with our partners, against our instincts to resist. The average person finds this concept hard to accept as it's against what we accept as the norm. The more advanced our understanding the more we yearn to explore what's beyond the boundaries of the mind. We are beginning to realize that there are realms beyond reality as the Universe begins to make sense.

The uninitiated expect Aikido techniques to work when confronted and maybe they might but the real value is acting with compassion and integrity. It's only with constant practice and understanding of the complete essence of budo that we can apply Aikido successfully in a life situation. We must not react with fear, anger, or revenge. We have a genuine responsibility to ourselves, our enemies, and the universe, perpetuated with faith in ourselves.

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