sam9am
I apologize for this being in English! My family and I will be moving to Sweden in the Spring of next year (2011). Am looking for an Aikido dojo to join when we arrive. My husbands job will be in Sodertalje but we are looking to live West of there in the Nykvarn or Mariefred area. I currently practice Aikikai style and would like to continue in that style if at all possible. My three oldest children also practice Aikido and would like to continue with them...ages 11, 9 and 7. Does anyone have any recommendations for me? I've studied under students of Chiba Shihan, Ahira Tohei Shihan and Yamada Shihan and am currently a student of Okimura Shihan. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Sincerely,
Sam Elmore
Pennsylvania, USA




Almost all aikido in Sweden is within the Aikikai, except for a smaller group of ki-aikido dojos and an even smaller group connected to a teacher named Tomita. Belonging to the Aikikai doesn't necessarily mean the style will be very similar to what you are used to, though. I'm afraid the US-based teachers you mention have hardly any students here at all, and few of us will know much about what their aikido is like.
There is an aikido dojo in Södertälje: http://www.nuboko.se/
Since all aikido dojos in Sweden (almost) are in the same federation, they are all listed in one place http://aikido.budo.se/klubbar.asp The district "Södermanland" should be the one of main interest to you.
Of the four Södermanland dojos, one is ki-aikido. "Aikido Academy" is the Tomita branch - Tomita sensei is a student of late Saito sensei, so the aikido is related to the so called Iwama style. Nuboko (Södertälje/Järna) does a very soft, flowing and dance-like style of aikido (I personally don't find the word dance-like negative when it comes to aikido. Say it loud, I'm a dancer and I'm proud!) in the Yamaguchi/Endo/Tissier/Noël style. The "Budo Ken" dojo probably is a bit less dance-like - if it still exists. The web site is gone but the man leading it has been running small dojos since forever, so try the phone number. Probably he will be doing something, somewhere.
Good luck!
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