Aikido is a Japanese self-defence sport that revolves around harmony and resilience. Where martial arts and ‘sports’ come together. It is also known as a martial art without violence. On this page, you will learn that Aikido is not only about the elegant movements, but also about the Japanese philosophy and training opportunities Ando has to offer. Whether you are a be a curious beginner or an experienced Aikidoka (or maybe even Budoka), with us you will find what you need to start or further develop your Aikido journey.
Ai-ki-do (合気道 aikidō) - the path to harmony and inner strength awaits you!
This not only increases your physical resilience, but also your mental resilience and self-confidence. Aikido is a path to personal development on four different levels. Physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. At Aikido School Ando, we work on self-control, self-awareness, self-realisation and self-expression both on and off the mat. Our goal is to empower you, allowing you to connect with yourself and others in harmony. Staying calm in stressful situations and de-escalating conflicts. Aikido is accessible to everyone, regardless of gender, age or your sporting background.
At Aikido School Ando, you can take classes in Eindhoven, Geldrop, Sint-Oedenrode, Zaltbommel and Veldhoven. If you can't come on your usual training evening, that's no problem; you can easily switch nights or locations. This offers flexibility for anyone with a busy schedule. Our main location is in Eindhoven, which is centrally located and ideal for internships and seminars involving Aikidokas from abroad come. Our Aikido team consists of several teachers which you can read more about on this page. All our instructors have been screened and have a valid Certificate of Good Conduct, plus an Oranje Kruis first aid diploma. We value a safe place to learn. With our certified instructors, you dare to make mistakes and this strengthens your resilience. Sensei Edo and Anne (brother and sister) are the head trainers. In which we are fortunate in addition to being among the highest graded Aikidokas in the world at their 5th dan level, to have had lessons together from Yoshimitsu Yamada. A direct disciple of O'Sensei Morihei Ueshiba.
Although Aikido is a martial art, you can certainly think of it as a self-defence sport, a non-competitive art of defence aimed at personal growth as well as effective self-defence. Aikido as we know it today originated in 1942. Conceived by Morihei Ueshiba who developed Aikido not as a competitive or martial art, but as a martial art. Which promotes balance between body, soul and mind. That sounds very crazy, because most martial arts are more focused on taking out the opponent. Morihei thought slightly differently. In fact, there are several ways to resolve a conflict. Thus, with Aikido, you choose the most harmonious path. It is no wonder then that Aikido causes fewer injuries than other competitive sports.
Because Aikido has no competitions, Aikido is therefore not a sport and is suitable for a very broad target group. Thus, the age range within our dojo varies from 4 to 69 years. That makes you never too old to learn Aikido. We also teach you at your pace everything you need to know about Aikido and resilience. Our Ando community extends beyond the Netherlands and we now inspire more than 33,000 people around the world through our socials. See for yourself but how we do this.
Aikido grew out of Morihei Ueshiba's lifelong dedication. Born in Tanabe, Japan, he began studying various traditional martial arts at an early age, including sword fighting, spear fighting and the sport of heavyweights: sumo wrestling. Driven by his desire for self-development and spiritual growth, he discovered that the true essence of martial arts lies not in defeating opponents, but in creating harmony.
In the years that followed, Ueshiba established his dojo and began his own style of Developing Aikido, in which the principles of self-defence came together with the deeper philosophy of connection and peace. This evolution led to the name Aikido in 1942, a name symbolising the path of harmony.
Ueshiba's insights and his dedication to the principles of Aikido became recognised by the Japanese government, which conferred several awards on him. In 1948, for instance, Aikido was officially recognised as a method of self-defence and self-development by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. He inspired generations of students with his wisdom and techniques, and his legacy lives on in dojos around the world.
Today, Aikido remains a path of self-development, where everyone can grow and connect, regardless of their background or level.
Want to delve further into the history of O'sensei? Then read on here.
The ultimate goal of Aikido is to body and mind in balance get. This includes being comfortable in your skin, radiating self-confidence and walking your own path, without being unbalanced by what others say.
Specifically, you develop:
During the training on the mat, you will learn this through your become aware of your own attitude, the intention with which you perform techniques, and the reactions you get reflected back from your training partner. It is a learning process where everyone learns this at their own pace. As we indicated earlier, this personal development takes place on four main levels: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.
Aikido, like dancing, looks like choreographic movements that have been rehearsed. Nothing could be further from the truth. The movements are the result of previous actions. After all, our bodies indicate what we feel, experience and need to do. We perceive internally, where we are in balance or have reached limits. Often a situation is talked about with 'what if...', until you experience it for yourself. On the mat, we teach you to experiment and discover How to react in certain ways. Thus, over time, you learn that you are able to turn physical and experiential training into Moving autonomously and reacting positively.
Most techniques in Aikido are physical, but don't underestimate that during training you also engage in self-reflection and self-evaluation. You learn to recognise situations where you manage to regain calm, even in (unexpected) confrontations. Etiquette and customs within Aikido provide a good balance between active training, rest and respect for each other. At the end of the training, you will find that your head is a lot emptier and ready for new challenges. That is what Aikido does to you.
Aikido is also known as 'an encounter with yourself' mentioned. This has to do with the fact that in your learning process mirror what you are struggling with. Sometimes that is something you would rather not see about yourself. Such a process comes naturally and there is no telling what lessons it will bring. You cannot shift the responsibility for this to other Aikidokas when it occurs. Above all, it has to do with how to deal with these situations emotionally. Aikido is the path to your inner world, from which you can make strides to stand firmer in your shoes. The experience will enrich your life and take you to a higher consciousness.
As you train Aikido for longer, you are more comfortable in your body, which makes you make contact more easily with the person facing you and will feel better about them, even if you may not even know that person. The principles of Aikido are no longer only applicable on the mat, but also outside it. This also applies e.g. to breathing, from which you can get relaxation ... but also strength. Over time, you will see more clearly gaining insight into your own purpose (a well-known part of Ikigai). In addition, you will find connection with like-minded people faster.
Would you like to experience for yourself how Aikido makes you more resilient and what an effective self-defence class without aggression looks like? Then sign up for an introductory class of Aikido in your area without any obligations. For locations and times see here.
In the first Aikido video, sensei Edo takes you through an Aikido class for children. And in the second clip, we explain to you what makes the Aikido community so much fun. These are special training sessions such as the exclusive bonsai seminar which we organised at Ando.
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