Blog

Articles written by Ivan Melo and Cathy Okada. Most articles are also available in português and español.

A Year of Gyodokan

A reflection, written by Ivan Melo, September 2024 As we return to training after our short summer break, with great memories and sharpened skills from the Aikido of London summer camp, we can’t help but to also remember it’s been a year since Gyodokan opened its...

Aikido Styles

Written by Ivan Melo In the world of Aikido, it has become extremely popular to talk about styles. The most common one, is considering a political entity or institution a “style”. “They are Aikikai”, “he is from Iwama”, “she does Tomiki” and so on. Also often...

Hai, Sensei!

Article by Ivan Melo “The Japanese way of teaching and learning anything, whether it is art or making sushi or practicing Zen, is a lot of watching, eventual doing, being super confused and yet not asking questions, having someone inevitably correct you, and then...

Kenshō- Seeing One’s True Nature

Pictured: "Kenshō" Shodo piece by Ivan Melo on Gyodokan Kamiza. About our new dojo calligraphy piece​. by Ivan Melo (18.04.2024) This week our dojo got a new calligraphy piece for the kamiza, the altar to which we face at the beginning and ending of every class.  ...

Aikido, Gardening and Teaching

Picture: John Humphris and Cathy Okada, Nishinomiya 1989. A tribute to my late Grandad. by Cathy Okada. Originally shared 11.04.2024During lockdown in late 2019, a family member revealed a cool fact of my family ancestry- we are descendants of Mototsugu (Goto)...

Bag of Rocks

Picture above: "wa" or "harmony". Shodo piece by Ivan Melo. About Aikido training, harmony, and transformation. by Ivan Melo (31.03.2024)The art we have chosen to learn, is or has the potential to be a multilayered and multidimensional practice, which has the capacity...
A Year of Gyodokan
A Year of Gyodokan

A reflection, written by Ivan Melo, September 2024 As we return to training after our short summer break, with great memories and sharpened skills from the Aikido of London summer camp, we can’t help but to also remember it’s been a year since Gyodokan opened its...

read more
Aikido Styles
Aikido Styles

Written by Ivan Melo In the world of Aikido, it has become extremely popular to talk about styles. The most common one, is considering a political entity or institution a “style”. “They are Aikikai”, “he is from Iwama”, “she does Tomiki” and so on. Also often...

read more
Hai, Sensei!
Hai, Sensei!

Article by Ivan Melo “The Japanese way of teaching and learning anything, whether it is art or making sushi or practicing Zen, is a lot of watching, eventual doing, being super confused and yet not asking questions, having someone inevitably correct you, and then...

read more
Kenshō- Seeing One’s True Nature
Kenshō- Seeing One’s True Nature

Pictured: "Kenshō" Shodo piece by Ivan Melo on Gyodokan Kamiza. About our new dojo calligraphy piece​. by Ivan Melo (18.04.2024) This week our dojo got a new calligraphy piece for the kamiza, the altar to which we face at the beginning and ending of every class.  ...

read more
Aikido, Gardening and Teaching
Aikido, Gardening and Teaching

Picture: John Humphris and Cathy Okada, Nishinomiya 1989. A tribute to my late Grandad. by Cathy Okada. Originally shared 11.04.2024During lockdown in late 2019, a family member revealed a cool fact of my family ancestry- we are descendants of Mototsugu (Goto)...

read more
Bag of Rocks
Bag of Rocks

Picture above: "wa" or "harmony". Shodo piece by Ivan Melo. About Aikido training, harmony, and transformation. by Ivan Melo (31.03.2024)The art we have chosen to learn, is or has the potential to be a multilayered and multidimensional practice, which has the capacity...

read more
Contact

St Matthew's Church Hall, North Common Road, Ealing W5 3QA (no mail by post)

Hours

Mondays

6:30pm-7pm: Zazen

7:10pm-7:30pm Aikido (Adults)

Tuesdays:

6:30pm-7:30pm: Aikido (Adults & under 18s)

7:30pm-8:30pm: Weapons

Thursdays

6:30pm-7:30pm: Aikido (Adults & under 18s)

7:30pm-8:30pm: Aikido (Adults)