Explore Martial Arts at Norwich Aikido Academy
Looking for a way to get fit, learn self‑defence, and have fun? Our martial arts family in Norwich offers Aikido, Judo, Tai Chi and other styles for all ages. You’ll walk in as a beginner and leave with real skills, better balance, and a clearer mind.
Why Aikido Works for Everyone
Aikido teaches you to feel and use "ki" – the subtle energy that flows through your body and the space around you. Simple breathing drills, smooth movements and short meditations help you sense that energy fast. Once you get the hang of it, redirecting an opponent’s force feels natural and you stay relaxed even under pressure.
Mixing Styles for a Complete Game Plan
Many people wonder if Judo and Aikido can be practiced together. The answer is yes. Judo adds powerful throws and pins, while Aikido focuses on joint locks and flowing redirects. Training both gives you a toolbox that covers every angle of a self‑defence scenario.
Tai Chi looks slow, but it shares the same core ideas of breath, posture, and energy flow. Adding a few Tai Chi forms to your routine improves your balance and body awareness, which directly boosts your Aikido techniques.
Our classes aren’t about fighting for sport; they’re about learning to stay safe and confident. You’ll practice real‑world scenarios in a controlled setting, so you can walk away knowing how to keep calm and protect yourself.
Parents love our kids’ sessions because the moves are safe, the environment is supportive, and children quickly pick up discipline and focus. Adults appreciate the stress‑relief benefits and the chance to stay active without heavy impact.
Every lesson starts with a short warm‑up, then we move into technique drills. We keep the pace steady and give you time to feel each movement. If you’re curious about how aggressive Aikido can be, our instructors will show you how to apply techniques firmly while staying respectful.
Ready to try? Drop in for a free introductory class, meet our friendly teachers, and see which style feels right for you. Whether you want to master Aikido’s ki, throw with Judo, or flow with Tai Chi, Norwich Aikido Academy has a spot waiting.
14 Mar 2023
Aikido is a martial art which focuses on the use of ‘ki’, or spiritual energy. To access one’s ‘ki’, practitioners need to learn how to sense and move with the energy around them. This is done through breathing exercises, physical movements, and meditation. Each of these practices helps to build an awareness of the energy in the environment, and also to cultivate the inner energy within oneself. By combining these practices, one can learn to use their ‘ki’ to defend themselves, move with grace, and to find balance in their lives. With dedicated practice and patience, any martial artist can learn to master the use of their ‘ki’.
Continue reading...
6 Mar 2023
Aikido is a Japanese martial art which focuses on defending and redirecting an attacker's energy, rather than attacking. In a fight, Aikido can be used aggressively and effectively, by using simple techniques such as joint locks and throws. Rather than using the attacker's force against them, Aikido practitioners use their own energy to control the situation. The key to using Aikido aggressively is to maintain control and remain calm, so that the practitioner can sense the attacker's movements and respond accordingly. With proper training, Aikido can be used to effectively and safely control a fight.
Continue reading...
28 Feb 2023
Judo and Aikido are two martial arts which have both similarities and differences. Judo consists of a wide range of throws, joint locks and pins, while Aikido focuses on redirecting an attacker’s energy and using their force against them. Although they are different in their approach, they are complementary and can be used together in the same way as a complete system of self-defence. Practising both arts at the same time can help to build a more complete self-defence strategy and give a practitioner a greater understanding of body movement. The two martial arts are not mutually exclusive and can be used together to create a powerful self-defence system.
Continue reading...
16 Feb 2023
Taichi and Aikido are two forms of martial arts that share a common origin and many common principles. Both arts rely on relaxation, body awareness, and the channeling of energy to generate power. Taichi is characterized by slow, circular motions and is often practiced as a form of meditation. Aikido focuses on developing control and balance, and deals with redirecting an opponent's energy in order to neutralize the attack. Despite having many similarities, the two arts are distinct in many ways, most notably in their approach to self-defense. While Taichi emphasizes a more defensive strategy, Aikido encourages more active defense, as well as offense.
Continue reading...