# East Sheen Aikido and Kenjutsu

East Sheen Aikido and Kenjutsu is a specialist martial arts dojo located in southwest London, serving adults from late teens onwards who seek training in aikido and traditional Japanese swordsmanship. The club teaches Aikido, a martial discipline centred on redirecting an attacker's energy through mind, ki and body awareness, alongside Kashima no Tachi Kenjutsu, which emphasises direct, pressure-responsive body mechanics.

What distinguishes this club is its integrated approach to martial development. Rather than treating sword and unarmed work as separate disciplines, instructors explore how kenjutsu (sword training) cultivates the softness, sensitivity and body awareness that informs aikido technique. Students train with shinai and bokken, progressing to iaito and shinken for advanced practitioners, whilst developing the tanden—the body's energetic centre—as a foundation for effective movement.

The philosophy extends beyond physical self-defence. Classes incorporate stretching, qi gong and centering exercises to cultivate calm focus and ki development. Crucially, the dojo addresses psychological and mental resilience, teaching students to maintain their centre during verbal and psychological pressures encountered in daily life—arguably more relevant to modern practitioners than physical combat.

Affiliated with Tetsushinkan dojo in Islington and recently hosting internationally recognised instructor Ellis Amdur for seminars, the club combines serious martial study with holistic personal development. Classes suit those seeking authentic training, mental discipline and the meditative aspects of traditional Japanese martial arts.