Beginners Seminar and Christmas Seminar 25/26
As 2026 begins bringing about Term 2 of the Academic Year, we can take a moment to look back on both of our seminars from Term 1. Taking place in the University of Warwick Sports and Wellness Hub’s Multipurpose Room and Phoenix Aikido Dojo respectively, our Beginners Seminar and Christmas Seminar not only allowed us to welcome eight new beginners to the club, but also saw five of them successfully through to grading.
Each seminar was composed of four classes. The Beginners Seminar began with a class led by our Chief Instructor at the University of Warwick, Tim Sullivan Sensei, which provided an essential warm-up for the training to come. Technical Director Chris Mooney Sensei led the subsequent three classes, reinforcing footwork, ukemi, and techniques covered in the previous weeks, before turning our focus towards kaiten nage and its variations.
The Christmas Seminar built on techniques from the Beginners Seminar while also branching out to give our newer members a taste of how varied Aikido can be, all while retaining its key principles. This time, the warm-up was led by Ian Grubb Sensei, before handing over once again to Chris Mooney Sensei for the main body of the seminar. The key focus of this training was combining multiple techniques into one flowing exercise, and we explored how minimising the number of steps taken during a technique can improve its effectiveness.
The Christmas Seminar concluded with a grading exam for five of our beginners. All five were successful in achieving their 6th Kyu grade, marking a fantastic milestone so early in their Aikido journey.
We are incredibly grateful to our returning visitors, in particular Chris Mooney Sensei and Ian Grubb Sensei, for their valuable teaching and continued support of our club. Senior students and instructors present provided invaluable training partners for those just starting their Aikido journey, as it is our belief that Aikido is best learnt through the skin.
Photo Credit:
Top Left - Elisha Caguiat - A group photo from the Christmas Seminar
All others - Zoey Jafri - Photos taken through out the Beginners Seminar