St John’s Aikido Club is tailor-making a series of introductory lessons to aikido, particularly for women.

David Halsall, the club’s instructor, has taught in the Netherlands and Ireland, in classes equally balanced between men and women, that recognised and appreciated the natural understanding that women have of aikido.

He holds a 4th Dan in aikido and has taught this particular martial art for 25 years.

Commenting, he said: ’In most classes of self-defence and martial arts the majority of practitioners are men because the feeling generated is that self-defence means aggression and fighting which, based on my teaching experience, is not appealing to the majority of women.’

Alan Ruddock, David’s teacher, and the late Henry Kono - both of whom were direct students of the founder of aikido - said that any true aikido class should have a balance of men and women if the practice in the class is true aikido.

The purpose of the lessons is to introduce women to an art that is both beautiful, practical and effective as a way of self-defence and can also be beneficial to health both physically and mentally.

The course is based on four lessons starting Tuesday, February 14, and continuing for four weeks. The cost for the course will be £20 and no special clothing is required, simply something loose.

The club meets at St John’s Methodist Hall and classes start at 7pm.

If you are interested, please contact David on 07925 209472 or email [email protected] or on Facebook under St John’s Aikido Club.