Reviews of Aikido Auckland - The Institute of Aikido Auckland

I have never been a student of sensei Duncan's but I and my fellow club members have had the pleasure of visiting and attending his seminars on many occasions. What a pleasure! His teaching methods are down to earth, easy to understand at all levels, and his comical input puts everyone at ease. His understanding of the art is top class in NZ Aikido circles - internationally renowned and trained - sensei Duncan is an amazing teacher. His open door policy and non political stance makes this a very warm club to visit or join - highly recommend you give him a call.

A very welcoming place - friendly instructor and a great community vibe. Good selection of training times and reasonable fees. A variety of seminars throughout the year offers exposure to other styles of Aikido as well as other martial arts. Great place to train, whether you've done martial arts before or if you're just beginning!

I came to New Zealand in 2007 and it wasn't long before I began looking for a Martial Art / club to train at. I have a history of Kung Fu and Muay Thai training from the UK. It wasn't long before The Institute of Aikido crossed my radar and I headed to the Dojo to have a look. I spoke with Sensei Dunken Francis and within a few weeks began my Aikido journey. Unlike some clubs / associations I have been involved in over the years, The Institute of Aikido Auckland concentrates on teaching and promoting Aikido rather than maximising financial gain which is a breath of fresh air. The membership subs are very reasonable considering the number of training hours available each week for just the single monthly fee. Ego's are left at the door and there is a good mix of male and female members of all ages and abilities. There are lots of opportunities to also train with many other senior instructors who attend training seminars throughout the year.

I have been a student of Aikido for over ten years and when I moved to Auckland 2 years ago I wanted to find a school where the instructor knew his stuff but didnt have a huge ego, which you so often find in martial arts schools. I was welcomed onto the mat on my first night and introduced to the class and within a few minutes I felt like part of the family. The senior instructor has a huge technical knowledge and puts this information across clearly and with a nice sense of humour and the other instructors are all helpful and understanding.

Although the style is slightly different to what I have trained in before the clubs focus on mechanical fundamentals and practicality impressed me and I am looking forwards to many years of happy training in my new "home".