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British Aikido Board


The National Governing Body for Aikido in the United Kingdom.
Aikido is a martial art founded by Morihei Ueshiba, that focuses on harmonising with your opponent, it can be practised as a sport, self defence and an art using hand to hand and japanese weapons.

Welcome to the British Aikido Board

The British Aikido Board seeks to:-

  • Represent the majority of bona fide organisations practicing aikido in the United Kingdom.
  • Support, encourage and promote the highest standards of aikido within an environment of mutual respect for offering styles practiced.
  • Raise awareness of the value of aikido not only as a contributor towards healthy living, but also in the development of adults, young people and children, without regard to race, gender or creed.

The British Aikido Board operates primarily through its member Associations. There are 47 currently Full Member Associations with 1 Associate and Probationary Member Associations of regional and national status, who each retain their independence, both technically and financially, with a combined membership of some 5,000 , which includes 1247 instructors holding current Coaching Awards.

The Board is recognised by Sport England , as the only governing body for aikido in the United Kingdom and is a member of the Sport and Recreation Alliance.

 

The Board seeks to further the advancement of all styles of aikido and to establish and monitor standards of safety and behaviour for practitioners of aikido.

The Board advises member Associations on all relevant UK and European legislation and procedures and develops appropriate policies and codes of practice.

Other services provided include:-
•  Insurance cover, for members, instructors and Associations.
•  Promotion of a Nationally recognised Coaching Scheme in conjunction with UK Coaching / Sport England.
•  Organising a National Courses.
•  Supporting initiatives to encourage the teaching of Aikido in schools.
•  Publishing Newsletters and specialist information bulletins eg. Safeguarding and Coaching.

The Board has completed a number of initiatives, arising from the work of their major Governance Audit and through the adoption of a wide range of recommendations, contained in their Aikido Development Plan will support their key objective of encouraging all Aikido groups to join together under this “Aikido umbrella”.

  • Entering Amazon from here before you purchase ensures the BAB is supported by Amazon.

  • Entering Amazon from here before you purchase ensures the BAB is supported by Amazon.

  • Entering Amazon from here before you purchase ensures the BAB is supported by Amazon.

  • Entering Amazon from here before you purchase ensures the BAB is supported by Amazon.

  • Entering Amazon from here before you purchase ensures the BAB is supported by Amazon.

Entering Amazon from here before you purchase ensures the BAB is supported by Amazon.

Secretary to the British Aikido Board – Shirley Timms

Shirley Timms
Shirley Timms

Shirley Timms I was first introduced to Aikido in 1967 when my late husband, David Timms started practising with the then Renown Aikido Society, later to be renamed Institute of Aikido. In 1971 David was awarded 1st Dan, he became so involved, I complained that I never saw him so he persuaded me to start practising and that was in 1972. In 1979 I was awarded 1st Dan by Mr Hadyn Foster, and 2nd Dan March 1989.

When the BAB was newly formed, I attended the first meetings with Mr Foster and David as an observer, which were held at Wood Green Police Station under the Chairmanship of Chief Superintendent Ken Wilkinson. As a professionally trained secretary I just could not sit on the sidelines and appear invisible, so I took notes, which were borrowed by the then secretary for Minuting purposes. The first two secretaries resigned for one reason or another and I was asked to stand in on a temporary basis until they found someone else. That was in 1981 and I am still in post, so I must be doing something right.

Chief Superintendent Wilkinson resigned, so we had to find a new home for the BAB meetings, and Mark Maliney, who was treasurer for the UK Aikido Federation, offered the BAB his offices in Cricklewood, which were free, and that was the base for BAB meetings for a number of years until we out-grew Mark’s premises

Sadly in 1994 David died and I stopped practising on a regular basis, but my son William entices me back for ad hoc sessions on special occasions.

In 2016 I was awarded 4th Dan for services to Aikido, which I felt much honoured to receive.

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