Closed November 23rd through November 26th in observation of the Thanksgiving Holidays

December 23rd – Abbreviated schedule with no "Falls and Rolls" or sparring classes - Adults: 10:00am to 11:15am; Kids: 11:30am to 12:30pm

Closed December 24th through January 1st in observation of the Christmas and New Year Holidays

Kubotan 1 Course:

Saturday, December 9th  - 1:30 to 3:00

Click here for more information and to register.

Chief Instructor

Sensei John Wyndham, owner and chief instructor, has more than 22 years of experience in self-defense training and instruction in the martial arts. He currently holds the rank of San-Dan (Third Degree Black Belt) in the art of Nihon Goshin Aikido (Japanese Self-Defense Aikido).  He received his initial and finest training from Sensei Steven A. Weber in Nihon Goshin Aikido and has pursued additional training in Karate, Judo, Jiu-Jitsu, Aiki Jiu-Jitsu, and Hombu Aikido (Ueshiba style).  To further his understanding and abilities in the martial arts, Sensei Wyndham has also studied the arts of Filipino Escrima (Kali and Arnis), Ryu Te Kempo, Tai Chi, and European Fencing.  Mr. Wyndham is Sensei Weber’s senior student in the southeastern United States and continues to train with Mr. Weber in advanced defensive tactics.

Mr. Wyndham is a native of South Carolina and a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Pharmacy. He is a registered pharmacist, practicing in the Upstate (since 1982), and a life member of the National Registry of Who’s Who. During his extensive career as an instructor, he has instructed numerous law enforcement professionals from the Spartanburg County sheriff’s department (the sheriff and others), the Spartanburg county solicitor’s office, the Spartanburg County detention center, the Greenville County Sheriff’s department and the Cherokee County sheriff’s department.  Some of his dedicated students have gone on to join the FBI, US Marshal Service, US Marines, US Army, and most recently the Federal Air Marshal program.

Sensei Wyndham also provides martial arts and self-defense programs for educational facilities such as the University of South Carolina Upstate, Wofford College, Oakbrook Preparatory School, Spartanburg Day School, and numerous Upstate S.C. school districts.  Mr. Wyndham continues to conduct self-defense classes and courses for numerous women’s groups, after school programs, church groups, and civic organizations.  He has also provided courses and demonstrations for numerous corporations such as Milliken and BMW, to name a few.  Sensei Wyndham has also been featured on WSPA Channel 7, WYFF Channel 4, and the Peggy Denny Show on WGGS Channel 16 (Charter cable Channel 6) giving practical self-defense advice, techniques and tips.

In January, 1995; after Mr. Weber had moved to his New Port Richey, Florida location, Mr. Wyndham assumed responsibility for the Spartanburg Academy. Sensei Wyndham is the senior representative of the Nihon Goshin Aikido Association in the Southeastern United States and his dojo is the only academy authorized by the Nihon Goshin Aikido Association to teach the art in the Upstate/Greenville-Spartanburg S.C. metropolitan area. His dojo also serves the outlying areas of the upstate of South Carolina and southwestern North Carolina with students coming from as far away as Charlotte, NC, Hendersonville, NC, Anderson, SC and Clinton, SC to train with him.

Mr. Wyndham is a passionate advocate for effective martial arts training and personal self-defense education. He is a husband and a father and has been an upstanding member of the Spartanburg, S.C. community for over 24 years.  In addition to his dynamic and exciting teaching style, Mr. Wyndham emphasizes values such as honor, loyalty, respect, hard work, self-control and fair play in his teaching methods.

           THE SCHOOL

The Aikido Academy of Self-Defense was established in Spartanburg, S.C. on May 1, 1980 by Sensei Steven A. Weber.  Our Dojo has been in continuous and uninterrupted operation since it’s founding over 26 years ago.  This makes the Spartanburg Academy the second oldest Dojo of Nihon Goshin Aikido in the United States after the main Dojo in North Bergen New Jersey .

During its long history, the Aikido Academy of Self-defense has been a center for effective martial arts training and self-defense education in the Upstate/Greenville-Spartanburg Metropolitan area.  Men, women, and children, throughout the Upstate of South Carolina and southwestern North Carolina, travel to our dojo to learn the best self-defense techniques from Aikido, Karate, Jiu-jitsu and Judo.  The Spartanburg main dojo is known as a center for educating instructors in how to teach, and has produced a number of chief instructors in Nihon Goshin Aikido.

In 1997, the Aikido Academy moved to a modern, state of the art facility.  This building was designed specifically for the development of students and instructors in the art of Nihon Goshin Aikido. Our dojo maintains a staff of dedicated and highly educated instructors.  These mature and competent men and women have trained in Nihon Goshin Aikido for a minimum of 5 years.  All of our senior instructors are college educated, some with master level degrees, and have had many years of Aikido and self-defense training. At our academy we take great pride in the quality of our instructors.

Our dojo is conveniently located 300 yards off of the I-85 business loop, exit 1 (North Blackstock road  / Road 41) at 4249 North Blackstock Road in the Fairforest community of Spartanburg SC. The school is 8 miles from downtown Spartanburg, 2 miles from Westgate Mall, 10 minutes from Inman, SC and the Wellford/Duncan/Lyman area, one mile from WSPA Channel 7, 25 to 30 minutes from Gaffney, SC (I-85 South), 20 minutes from Woodruff, S.C. (I-26 West, exit 19A, then Exit 1 on Business I-85), and 15 to 20 minutes from the Pelham Road area of Greenville, S.C. (I-85 North, exit 69 – Business loop, then exit 1).

Our school offers professional, safe and enjoyable methods of learning martial arts and effective self-defense techniques.  Our dojo is the only educational facility authorized by the Nihon Goshin Aikido Association to provide the authentic art to the Upstate/Greenville-Spartanburg Metropolitan area.  The academy is open days and evenings, Monday through Thursday and Saturday mornings.  We offer convenient month to month memberships, have an easy sign-up process, and keep classes small for personalized attention.  If you are considering joining our school, please accept our invitation to come by and watch a class, meet the Chief Instructor, and see our training facility.  We look forward to meeting you soon.

4249 N. Blackstock Road

Spartanburg, SC 29301 show map

(864) 595-9555

email: aikidoacademy@charter.net

Directions to the School

 Ø      From Greenville, SC (Greer, SC; Wellford / Duncan / Lyman, SC) – Take  I-85 North toward Spartanburg, take exit 69 (Business loop), then travel 0.5 miles and take exit 1, (North Blackstock Road / Road 41), travel 0.7 miles on frontage road, at stop sign  take right (on North Blackstock road), travel 300 yards, the Aikido Academy is on the right.

 Ø      From Charlotte, NC (Gaffney, SC; Cowpens, SC; Chesnee, SC; Boiling Springs, SC) - Take I-85 South, take exit 70, take immediate left on Columbia SC split, merge onto I-26 East, Take immediate right on exit 19A on I-85 Business loop, Stay on exit as it turns into Exit 1 (North Blackstock Road / Road 41), travel 0.7 miles on frontage road, at stop sign take left (on North Blackstock Road), travel 0.5 miles (pass back over I-85 Business loop),the Aikido Academy is on the right.

 Ø      From Downtown Spartanburg (Union SC; Pacolet, SC) – Take Pine street north (Hwy 9/585) to exit for I-85 Business loop, (west toward Greenville), merge onto I-85 Business loop, take Exit 1 (North Blackstock Road / Road 41), travel 0.7 miles on frontage road, at stop sign take left (on North Blackstock Road), travel 0.5 miles (pass back over I-85 Business loop), the Aikido Academy is on the right.

 Ø      From Columbia SC (Woodruff SC, Clinton, SC; Laurens, SC; Enoree, SC; Reidville road area of Spartanburg) – Take I-26 West (towards Asheville NC), take exit 19A, toward Greenville SC, Merge onto I-85 Business loop, take immediate Exit 1 (North Blackstock Road / Road 41), travel 0.7 miles on frontage road, at stop sign take left (on North Blackstock Road), travel 0.5 miles (pass back over I-85 Business loop), the Aikido Academy is on the right.

 Ø      From Asheville, NC (Hendersonville, NC; Tryon, NC; Landrum, SC; Campobello, SC; Inman, SC) – Take I-26 East toward Spartanburg, SC, take exit 19A on I-85 Business loop, stay on exit as it turns into Exit 1 (North Blackstock Road / Road 41), travel 0.7 miles on frontage road, at stop sign take left (on North Blackstock Road), travel 0.5 miles (pass back over I-85 Business loop), the Aikido Academy is on the right.

                           Hours of Operation

                                         *private classes available by appointment