Takemusu Aikido Society has been named a finalist in the Sports Awards category of the Balbriggan Town Awards 2025, organised by the Balbriggan Tourism Committee. For a dojo that emerged during the unsettled times of the COVID pandemic, this recognition is a major milestone, marking how far the club has come and how firmly it has found its place in local community life.
The club’s story in Balbriggan began in 2021, when head instructor Raman Bekarevich moved to Ireland after ten years of intensive training in Japan under direct students of the Aikido founder. Bringing this depth of experience with him, Raman began the first sessions at a time when indoor activities were still restricted. Training took place outdoors with wooden weapons, on the sandy shores of Balbriggan beach and on the football pitches beside the Martello Tower. The early-days group was small but full of determination, and those sessions laid the foundations for what would become a dedicated and steadily developing dojo.
As restrictions eased and classes moved indoors, more people discovered Aikido, drawn to its non-competitive nature and its focus on balance, timing and blending with an incoming attack rather than meeting force with force. From the beginning, the club aimed to offer more than martial arts training alone, and this resonated with people looking for connection as much as exercise.
Balbriggan is a town that has changed rapidly in recent years, with new communities arriving and local residents seeking activities that bring people together. Takemusu Aikido Society positioned itself as a place where adults of all backgrounds could meet, learn and take part in something meaningful. Aikido’s cooperative practice naturally breaks down barriers between ages, cultures and fitness levels, creating a sense of belonging that many participants highlight as one of its most valuable qualities.
This commitment to opening the doors as widely as possible is central to the club’s ethos and forms part of why it was nominated for the Town Awards. Over the past few years, Takemusu Aikido Society has partnered with Fingal County Council on a range of social inclusion programmes, including Women in Sports Week, Men’s Health Week and Her Outdoors Week. These initiatives introduced many newcomers to the art and supported adults who might otherwise feel hesitant to join a physical activity later in life.
This year, the club launched a new initiative aimed at those who have recently moved to Dublin, offering two months of free practice to help people settle, make connections and become part of a positive, supportive community. For many, the weekly training has become a welcome anchor in their new surroundings.
The technical level of the dojo continues to develop alongside its community work. Raman, now a 4th Dan instructor, maintains strong links with teachers in Japan and Europe. Assistant instructor Jan Tóth has just returned from a month of intensive training in Iwama, the birthplace of Aikido, building on a previous training period there two years ago. Experiences like these ensure that the teaching in Balbriggan remains firmly rooted in the traditions of the art while staying accessible to beginners.
Saturday practice has become a fixture in the local sporting calendar, known for an approach that balances structure with friendliness and welcomes people of any experience level. The club also runs classes in Dublin city centre, but its heart is firmly in Balbriggan, where it continues to support wellbeing, connection and community spirit.
Those who would like to try Aikido are welcome to join a free trial class at Balbriggan Clubs Community Centre every Saturday from 3 pm to 4.30 pm. New members who sign up this winter can also avail of a 50% discount for their first month of practice. Further information is available at www.aiki.ie or by contacting info@aiki.ie.
