Our Approach

"Aiki" is a word for the union of opposites, by which something new is created. For us, Aikido is about practicing this transformation from confrontation and potential conflict into something new, like a new dimension to a friendship, a new sense of freedom or a new idea. Experiencing Aiki repeatedly in such a tangible way is magical, deeply relaxing, liberating and enjoyable.

"Our integrity is not threatened by movement but by the fear that prevents movement."

Denis Burke Sensei

Connection. The connections in our lives are of crucial importance to how things turn out. Imagine for a moment. Spill a glass of orange juice over a music CD and let it dry, perhaps dropping it on the floor a couple of times while it's still sticky. When you try to play that CD you may find that it doesn't play as well as before; the connection is being disrupted. It pays to keep our connections clean and clear. At Aikido Yuishinkai Andover, our practice of Aiki is done in a way that not only helps us do this, it also helps us learn about what is essential to clean connections.

Philosophy. We aim to make every act and every movement an effective and consistent expression of the positive and non-violent philosophy of Aikido. By practicing regularly we are cultivating an effective alternative to being forced to choose between conflict and capitulation. This is the antithesis of victim-hood. Life need not be a struggle,.. or a lost cause if you don't! This all sounds very serious, but the way we do Aikido makes it a lot of fun too!

Applications. Bringing clarity and simplicity to learning Aikido, its practical philosophy, and how to apply it powerfully in different environments, creates great opportunities and value.

Our qualified teachers also actively take the benefits of Aikido, in different forms, to schools, community projects, sports, people with disabilities, and companies.

Denis Burke Sensei works with several major corporate clients and global business leaders, the England Women's Rugby Team and, from recently, the British Olympic Biathlon Team.