Our club is situated in the heart of Frederiksberg which is an municipality completely surrounded by Copenhagen. Our Dojo is located in a multi-sports facility which is owned by the council and it is about 1,2 miles from the Copenhagen Central Station.

We are a minor club and non-commercial by nature. Our goal is to preserve the aikido that we have been fortunate enough to have received from Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba and the late Morihiro Saito Sensei. We strive to provide a safe environment, focused atmosphere and enjoyable training. Our class schedule has been arranged to match the busy life of today's active men and women.

We study Budo - Japanese traditional martial arts or self-defence in its wider sense, from physical locks and throws, dealing with grabs and strikes and learning about posture, balance and co-ordination to exploring the qualities of calmness, assertiveness, awareness and compassion. We learn how the mind and body can work together effectively, both in and outside the Dojo.

About our Aikido
Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido studied and pursued the ultimate teachings of various Japanese traditional martial arts. Through this and further strict spiritual training, Aikido; a means of training the mind and body was created in the 1920`s.

Morihei Ueshiba was able to overcome the concept of the other as an opponent and to instead attain the ideal of becoming one with the "universe". Aikido in this way embodies the Founder´s philosophy and thereby can be differentiated from other martial arts.

Aikido´s movement has both gentleness and sharpness. This movement is derived from Irimi (entering) and Enten (circular motion).

While Aikido makes use of complicated joint locks, throwing and pinning techniques are characteristic. By repetitive practice of technique we can reach the goal of developing our minds and bodies together.

There are no limitations to practice determined by age and gender. All people can practice depending on each persons individual capacity. However our martial art is bujutsū - it's very extensive, therefore, it is difficult to encapsulate it's practices in just a few sentences. It is, however, considered both hard and soft, a mental and very physical discipline.

Our training will consist of unarmed and armed personal combat techniques as taught in Japan. Our martial art is truly martial in that it is centered on centuries old, combat-tested techniques. We are not a sport martial art, nor do we compete in tournaments or match-type competitions.

While this sounds very serious, and indeed it is, we are also here to have fun, improve ourselves, learn from each other, and find ways to live our lives without fear.

In Aikido, the concept of ”Wa” (Harmony) is important. The meaning of Wa is; harmony of the spirit and body. Practice is not a contest between adversaries, but instead a harmonious partnership for making progress and advancement.

The Aikido practiced at Frederiksberg Aikido Club is somewhat eclectic in style reflecting our influence by Doshu, Moriteru Ueshiba and the late Morihiro Saito Sensei.

Our basic techniques show a definite Morihiro Saito Sensei influence. This is a highly structured system ideal for beginners with much emphasis on posture (kamae) strong, centred body movement and forceful direct atemi.

Alongside the basics we also teach techniques heavily influenced by Doshu, Moriteru Ueshiba, with a greater emphasis on circularity and fluidity of movement, including a wide range of kokyu nage which provide excellent training in timing, blending of force, tai sabaki and the use of breath power (kokyu).

Although Aikido's basic movements are relatively simple and are based on natural bodily alignments, some of the techniques appear to the beginner to be quite complex. This means only that the student must learn to be patient with himself or herself. In Aikido the process of learning is just as important and valuable as the end result of mastery of techniques.

Teachers
Our Sensei´s, Selene Martine Grotkjaer and Thomas Wessel Hansen have lived and trained in Japan several times and taught Aikido since the beginning of the 90ies and currently holds the rank of Yondan (4th-degree black belt) recognised by the Hombu Dojo, Aikikai in Tokyo.

Thomas has trained martial arts since 1974, first Judo and later Jiu-Jitsu. Selene has a long experience in gymnastics before she started training martial arts. Today, Selene is the highest graded woman in Denmark within Takemusu Aikido. They are Japan enthusiasts and experts in Tokyo lifestyle.

Selene Martine and Thomas are direct students of Aikido Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba, grandson of O´Sensei Morihei Ueshiba and students of the late Morihiro Saito Sensei from Iwama, Ibaraki Prefecture.

Selene Martine and Thomas are quite possibly the first ever to introduce the teachings of the 3rd Doshu in Denmark. Selene Martine and Thomas have spent several times as uchi-deshi (live-in student who trains under and assists a sensei, on a full-time basis) at the birthplace of Aikido where the Founder’s Dojo and Aikido Shrine are located in Iwama, Ibaraki Prefecture, under the tutelage of the late Master Morihiro Saito .

Selene Martine and Thomas travels frequently to Japan as soto-deshi (students who live outside the dojo as regular students) to train in Hombu Dojo under the guidance of Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba. They are probably the only Danes to have participated in the All Japan Aikido Embukai in Budokan, Tokyo. Hosted by Doshu and the Aikikai Foundation.

Philosophy
Because our philosophy is based on the traditional, non-competitive martial arts, beginners, intermediate and advanced students are encouraged to develop at their own pace. At our dojo, we view our students' self-development to be far more important than the achievement of rank. We understand how intimidating starting a new activity can be, and have structured our classes so that beginners can work comfortably in a class with intermediate and advanced belts.

Instead of paying for individual lessons, students pay monthly membership dues. All students assist in the maintenance of the dojo. We pride ourselves on maintaining the dojo-- not only as a place for serious Aikido training and discipline-- but also as a place with a sense of belonging and concern for each other.

All new students have a three-month trial period until there are fully accepted as members in our dojo. This is to assure that everybody contribute to the training, camaraderie and dojo culture. We will not hesitate to exclude any members who do not act in accordance with our traditions.

Visiting our Dojo
Frederiksberg Aikido Club welcomes all visitors to any of our classes. Classes are held three times a week. Please feel free to come watch any of our classes.

Our dojo is located in Bülowsvejhallen, just 1,6 km. from The Copenhagen Central Station (click here for a map of the location)

Metro/Bus:
From Forum Metro about 5 min. walk.
Bus no. 29 from Vesterport Station to Thorvaldsensvej.
Bus no. 14 from Copenhagen City Hall to Bülowsvej.
Bus no. 15 from Copenhagen Central Station to Bülowsvej.

Tourist or students from abroad will have no problems with the language during our aikido classes. We all speak English, many speak German and even some speaks French. All lessons are however conducted in Danish!

All necessary requirements for entering Denmark (Visa, lodging etc.) are the sole responsibility of the individual.

We are affiliated with the Aikido World Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan.

Long-time students from abroad studying or working here in Denmark need to authenticate their grade from 3rd kyu and yudansha grade. Only yudansha (black belt) grades issued from the Aikikai organisation are recognised.

Please bring a photocopy of your certificate or Aiki-passport on registration.

Make sure to have adequate medical insurance during training.

For any further information please send an e-mail to Frederiksberg Aikido Club. Click here for e-mail!

Our address:
Frederiksberg Aikido Klub
Bülowsvejhallen, Lille Hal. Bülowsvej 34.
1962 Frederiksberg C.

Registration and enrolling:
The initial registration period for beginners is three months DKK 500,00 Incl. annual DAF membership fee DKK 50,-
Monthly membership dues: DKK 150,00
Annual DAF membership fee DKK 50,-

Training fees cover our costs for aikido training, facilities and gradings.

The membership fee is payable regardless of whether you train or not. If you wish to unsubscribe please do so in writing to your sensei. If we have not received your resignation, you will still be charged membership fee.

All instructors and club executive members are unpaid volunteers who donate their time and effort for free.

Timetable:

** Saturday practice - only on the first Saturday of the month, registration via facebook.
* In equal week number, there is weapons (Bokken and Jo) training in advanced hours Monday and Friday.

Beginner training is for beginners up to 6.kyu.
Basic training is from 6 kyu up to 4th kyu.
Advanced training is from the 4th kyu up to Yudansha (Black Belt) level.

The history of Frederiksberg city

Frederiksberg is a municipality and located as an enclave within the municipality of Copenhagen, the national capital. The municipality was originally situated west of Copenhagen, but after a number of smaller municipalities were merged with Copenhagen in 1901, it became completely surrounded by Copenhagen.

In 1700-1703 King Frederik IV built a palace on top of the hill known as Valby Bakke. He named the palace Frederichs Berg and the rebuilt town at the foot of the hill changed name to Frederiksberg. A number of the houses in the town were bought by wealthy citizens of Copenhagen who didn’t farm the land, but rather used it as country houses. Today the city consists entirely of 3-5 story residential houses, large single-family homes, and large parks. On aerial pictures Frederiksberg stands out from the surrounding city of Copenhagen as a green area with few large roads. It is considered to be one of Copenhagen's more prestigious areas in which to live.

Frederiksberg was given its local self-government in 1858, and it rapidly began to grow in population. From 1919, the authority appointed its own mayor and city council.