Aikido of Chennai brings to our wonderful city the most graceful and devastatingly effective martial art from Japan. Aikido combines balance with inner strength and calmness of mind to redirect an attacker’s force in such a way so as softly subdue aggression. Taught to US Navy Seals, the Japanese Defence Force, police and paramilitary forces around the world – Aikido has proven to be a very versatile and effective art in the hands of experienced practitioners. With internationally trained instructors, a passionate group of practitioners and a calendar of visiting international masters, Aikido of Chennai provides an entrance into being absorbed into this art.

The goal of Aikido of Chennai is to impart training that is not about perfection of a step or skill, but rather improving one’s character according to the rules of nature. One becomes “resilient” inside yet this strength is expressed softly. Movements found in nature are efficient, rational, and soft, while the center is immovable, firm, and stable. The club will provide training in the basics of Aikido for children, women, young professionals, active police officers, security personnel, college students and anyone looking for a way to mold mind and body into a single, calm, force. We are all-inclusive and only request you follow the Rules of the Club.

Aikido of Chennai is brought to you by Gaya Fitness Pvt. Ltd. which seeks to promote holistic development of body and mind through various physical activities. Primary instructor is Mr. Senthil Kumar who has trained under Sensei Makoto Ito (6th Dan) of Japan, Sensei Paritos Kar (5th Dan) of India, and Sensei Masayasu Otsuka (4th Dan) from Japan. Senthil has a black belt in karate, black belt in kobudo and is an expert in the ancient Tamil art of silambam (stick fighting). Senthil is experienced in Wing Chun kung-fu and has been an avid practitioner of martial arts for the past 15 years. His passion is to help interest in the arts grow in Chennai.

Technical Director of Aikido of Chennai

Technical direction for Aikido development and teaching at AoC is provided by Patrick, the Technical Director. Patrick was educated in Japan by Aikido’s leading masters.

Patrick at his 5th Dan promotion with Moriteru Ueshiba (3rd Doshu) Patrick has spent more than 25 years in Aikido, a significant portion of which included daily practice at the Aikido World Headquarters (Aikikai Hombu Dojo) in Japan. Even now, he continues to broaden his training with routine visits to Tokyo as often as 6 times a year.

Patrick is privileged to have had his primary instruction come directly from three generations of the founder of Aikido’s family including Kisshomaru Ueshiba (2nd Doshu), Moriteru Ueshiba(3rd Doshu), and Mitsuteru Ueshiba (“Waka-sensei”)

At Aikikai Hombu Dojo, he also extensively attended classes taught by master instructors including (9th Dans)Seigo Yamaguchi , Hiroshi Tada, Sadateru Arikawa, Shigenobu Okumura; (8th Dans) Norihiko Ichihashi, Seijuro Masuda, Seishiro Endo, Nobuyuki Watanabe, Shoji Seki; (7th Dans) Tsuruzo Miyamoto, Yoshiaki Yokota, Hayato Osawa, Shigeru Sugawara, Takanori Kuribayashi, and Takeshi Kanazawa.

Patrick sensei travels to Chennai 3-4 times a year to take classes, conduct grading as per Hombu Dojo guidelines and to further the technical competency of the key practitioners/instructors at Aikido of Chennai.