New people are always welcome to come along and join in at Satomi Kai, but once a year the club runs a special beginners course. One of these introductory courses will be starting on Sunday 24th January at the Mid Suffolk Leisure Centre in Stowmarket.

It’s perfect timing for anyone making New Year’s resolutions to come and try something new. If the pure physicality of heading down to the gym and pounding the treadmills doesn’t appeal, this dynamic Japanese martial art offers a great way to exercise not just the body, but your mind and your spirit too. It’s an art that will grow with you as you get older, so your resolution this year can last you a lifetime.

The course will focus on ukemi (safe falling), posture breaking, basic striking & grabbing, and some simple throws. As well as learning some unarmed techniques, people on the course will have the opportunity to try out two of the traditional weapons of Aikido – the  sword & staff.

An introductory course like this is the ideal way to start. Not only does it mean that the lessons are tailored specifically towards new people, but also starting as part of a group of like-minded fresh faces is always a great help.

The course runs for six consecutive Sundays, from 7-8.30pm and costs just £25. This includes association membership and insurance for a full year, so if you fall in love with the art like we did, you can simply continue by paying for classes with no additional joining fee. The club is a non-profit organization, so there are no contracts. Coloured belt gradings are free, and black-belt gradings are all subsidised at national level, so there are no hidden costs.

The course is open to anyone aged 16+. Places will need to be limited for space and safety, so anyone interested in the course can book by emailing aikido@precepts.co.uk