Wadokai Aikido of Atlanta

History

Shihan Kelley began his Aikido career in 1991 in Douglasville, GA. Shortly after Shihan Kelley joined the American International Ki Development and Philosophical Socitey. He continued to study in Douglasville until 1993 when his original teacher left AIKD&PS to pursue other ventures. Around 1995, the Douglasville dojo dissolved and he began training directly under Sensei Fen Ackerman in Lilburn, GA. In June of 1999, he tested for and received his Nidan. In October of 1999, he started the Marietta, GA branch of the Atlanta Wadokai dojo in the Marietta YWCA. He has taught in Marietta until 2017 when the class moved to Smyrna. In May of 2004, the Marietta Branch was the only Wadokai school for the Atlanta area. In June of 2017, Shihan Kelley moved the class to Smyrna. That year he was promoted to Rokudan (6th degree) and currently holds that rank. Shihan Kelley continues his affiliation with Wadokai, the AIKD&PS and Sensei Suenaka and is a certified dojo in good standing.

Specialties

Aikido is a Japanese martial art that on a purely physical level is an art involving some throws and joint locks. The art of Aikido does not focus on striking opponents, but rather on using their own energy to lead them off balance, gain control of them, and to throw them away from you or toward the floor. It is not a static art, but places great emphasis on motion and the dynamics of movement. Aikido is non aggressive as it depends on the energy of the attack. Aikido of Atlanta seeks to stay true to the original intent of O'Sensei while learning practical techniques that work.