Reviews of Oakdale Aikido Club

I have trained on and off at the club for 6 years and without a shadow of a doubt it is the most friendly, inviting club I have been to, all of the people in the club make you feel like one of their own and help you in anyway they can, I couldn't have gotten to the grade I am now without the help and gidence of everyone on the club.

Avoid. Talking off mat by seniors is incredibly rude. Techniques are very poor. Sub standard teachings. Poor association!

Have been at this club for almost 6 years, have had nothing but positive experiences here. The teachers are great and know how to make a session fun while keeping it disciplined. I have progressed from complete beginner to brown belt at this club and have always felt challenged and encouraged to do my best without being pressured or pushed past my limits.

The negative reviews below are both made by one person, who attended classes twice and whose behaviour was so awful that he was no longer made welcome at the club.

I love this club. I turned up for two sessions and was then informed by a consultant that i wasn't allowed on the mat due to surgery for 8 months. Every week i turned up with a smile and an iPad and was made to feel very welcome. The instructors are highly trained, lethal if they need to be, patient but above all fun. I've now been on the mat for a few weeks and will be graded in two months time. I feel continually supported and encouraged and am really benefitting from the years of wisdom and experience these guys present. If you want to be a street fighting ninja MMA type of fella, stay away.

This is Akido in all it's fully rounded holistic properly taught style. It is an art which takes time and patience for which there are fantastic rewards.

Have attended this club as a member for 1 year, and attended to watch for 4 year before that (small children and pregnancy weren't compatible with practice). The instructors are experienced and excellent teachers, the regular members are friendly and welcoming and the classes are suitable for all proficiency levels. I have nothing but good things to say about the club and would recommend it to anyone who wants to study Aikido, get fit, or just wants to get in some exercise without hitting the gym.

Oakdale Aikido was founded 40 years ago under Shihan Peter Thomas. Not only does the club benefit from Shihan Thomas' traditional style (with direct lineage from some of the founding instructors in British Aikido as well as some of the top Japanese instructors) Oakdale blends the modern dynamic style of aikido in the form of Shin Gi Tai Aikido.

Oakdale is a top end club featuring both quality instruction and great aikido technique - as well as it should as it has several British Aikido Board Qulified Instructors- and is highly recommended. Take the word of a student who actually trains at the club as opposed to some dojo hopper who has no clue.