A teacher measured by his students.

Aziz Meknassi

Aziz Sensei's Aikido began decades ago at the Budokan du Maroc in Casablanca, under Shihan Abderrahman Bahaddou. Ask him about his own achievements and the conversation turns, within a sentence or two, to his teacher — the patience he showed, the standards he kept, the care he took with every student on the mat.

That is the tradition Hizashikan carries. When Aziz brought his practice to Coventry, he built the dojo as a not-for-profit club: every contribution goes back into the mats, the hall and the students. There is no business here — only a training hall, kept open by the people who use it.

His teaching style is unhurried and personal. Beginners are partnered carefully. Children are given the same seriousness as adults, and adults the same encouragement as children. The quietest student in the room gets the most attention — because that is how he was taught.

“My job is not to make Aikido look impressive. It is to make you believe you can do it — because you can.”