Newcastle Aikido

BLUE ZONE DOJO OPEN DAY

Sunday, August 30

Come and experience a different approach to getting stronger, moving better and living well for longer.

Set inside our Aikido dojo, Blue Zone draws on Aikido philosophy and Japanese movement practices, combining strength, mobility, balance, coordination and mindful movement.

A different way to move. A different way to train.

Come along to our Blue Zone Open Day, have a go and see what it’s all about.

Places are strictly limited to 10.

DM BLUE to save your spot.

MEET RACHELLE 👋

If you’ve been around the dojo for a while, chances are you’ve crossed paths with Rachelle.

She’s been part of our dojo since 2011, a busy mum of four, and these days she wears a few different hats around here.

You’ll find her on the tatami or helping us behind the scenes with operations and admin, as well as teaching some of our Chiisai Kai classes with the littlest members of our dojo.

But more than anything, Rachelle is one of those people who quietly gets in and contributes.

She’s part of the fabric of this place - the community, the work, the chaos, the laughs and all the little things that make a dojo feel like more than just somewhere you train.

We’re pretty lucky to have her.

And if you want to know a little more about Rachelle, swipe through. ❤️

Three weeks at the dojo with Anna.

Our visiting uchideshi from Wrocław spent three weeks with us - training, sweating, laughing, eating, learning and becoming part of the rhythm of the dojo.

Along the way, she captured some beautiful moments of our people.

I love seeing the dojo through Anna’s eyes.

Thank you for being part of our little world, Anna. 🤍

There’s more to come from Anna’s time with us 📷

10 PLACES HAVE OPENED UP.

Looking for something that helps your child get off the screens, move their body and build confidence?

Our kids’ Aikido program is for ages 8–17 and gives them a place to:

🥋 Build confidence
🥋 Handle school pressure
🥋 Learn practical skills around bullying & conflict
🥋 Make new friends
🥋 Get active and have fun

Daily 4–5pm + Saturday 9–10am
Unlimited classes.

Only 10 places available.

If you think your child would love being part of this crew,
DM KIDS and we’ll send you the details

MEET HIDE ❤️

Swipe →

Nearly 20 years of Hide. ❤️

Curious.
Creative.
Kind.
Always learning.

We absolutely love you, Hide 🐺

Over the past three weeks we’ve had the pleasure of welcoming Anna Duda from Poland to Newcastle Aikido as an uchideshi.

It has been a privilege to have you training alongside us, and you’ve quickly become part of our dojo family. Your work ethic, humility, curiosity and willingness to throw yourself into every opportunity made you a wonderful addition to the mat.

A heartfelt thank you to Piotr Sensei and everyone at our sister dojo in Aikido dojo for sharing Ania with us. These connections between dojos are something we truly value, and we’re grateful to continue strengthening that friendship across the world.

The visit certainly wasn’t short on experiences. From training with Okamoto Shihan, to member-led adventures exploring Newcastle and beyond, countless hours on the mat, delicious homemade pierogi, plenty of laughter, new friendships and most importantly tremendous growth.

Thank you for sharing this part of your martial arts journey with us. We hope you leave Australia with wonderful memories, lifelong friendships, and know you’ll always have a home at Newcastle Aikido.

Safe travels home, Ania. We can’t wait to welcome you back one day 🩷

Arigatou gozaimash*ta 🙏🏻

Kangeiko wraps up tomorrow ❄️

45 days of early mornings.
Cold starts.
Choosing practice over comfort.
Just showing up.

Tomorrow we’ll finish with Zazen meditation at 6:30am to share a cup of tea, and spend some time reflecting on the journey we’ve all been on together.

A huge thank you to everyone who committed to this Kangeiko.

Whether you made every session or just kept finding your way back to the mat, you’ve been part of something really special. The atmosphere, the encouragement, the quiet determination and the friendships built over these 45 days have been incredible.

We are really looking forward to slowing down for a moment tomorrow, sharing a cuppa, hearing a few reflections and celebrating what we’ve all achieved together.

See you in the morning. 🤍