Starting Aikido soon

[Sidious]

I've been interested in training in martial arts for a while now and Aikido imparticular.

Next week I'm going to be looking for a dojo, there are several in my area and I plan on visiting them all and observing before I decide on one. I know some of you practice Aikido and other martial arts, can you give me some advice on what I should be looking for in a good dojo?

Or your impressions of Aikido would also be most helpful. Because of my work schedule I will probably only be able to train on Saturdays. Is this worthwhile for a beginner? Or should I wait until I can vist the dojo 2 or 3 times a week?

[aerius]

Any training is better than no training, and once a week is enough to get you started on the basics. What you look for depends on what you want to get out of your Akido experience. Are you approaching it from the self-defence view, for fitness, or just learning the art? The most important thing is how the instructor gets his knowledge across to the class, talk to some students of various belts and experience levels and get an impression of how well they're being taught. Are the beginners getting lost, are the advanced students feeling bored and held back, that kind of stuff. Other thing to look for is lots of hands on practice time, preferably against partners.

[The Dark]

Also, if you don't like the first style of Aikido you try, keep looking. I can think of half a dozen different schools off the top of my head, which range from very hard styles to very soft styles. I've gone from Karate to Aikikai to Tae Kwon Do and now (hopefully) back to Aikikai, just because I was trying to get a feel for different forms. Don't just jump at the first opportunity, get disappointed, and think all the styles are identical (even within Aikido).

[weemadando]

Aikido is great, but until you get good at it, it has only limited uses. Once you are really good at it though its almost undefeatable...

[Next of Kin]

I've been interested in training in martial arts for a while now and Aikido imparticular.

How could the resident aikido monkey NOT post his 2 cents to this thread! Good for you! I hope you start your training soon! I have trained for aikido for about 2 years now and although I have moved towards brazillian jujitsu, I thank aikido for helping me imensely with my foot work, break falls, and relaxation.

Next week I'm going to be looking for a dojo, there are several in my area and I plan on visiting them all and observing before I decide on one. I know some of you practice Aikido and other martial arts, can you give me some advice on what I should be looking for in a good dojo?

You have that many, eh? Go for your free class and participate, watch the instructor, watch the other students. A good instructor is worth every penny so don't base your decision on $$ alone. I studied Yoshinkan as it is a 'harder' style of Aikido in that there is more adherence to form. However, I've heard many good things about Aiki-kai depending on the instructor. Watch out that you don't get an instructor that primarily focuses on etiquette and meditation. Some will watch to teach that before any techniques or weapons are learned. Ask the instructor if they belong to any of the various aikido federations. You can find certified dojos (IYAF for example by going to their home site).

Or your impressions of Aikido would also be most helpful. Because of my work schedule I will probably only be able to train on Saturdays. Is this worthwhile for a beginner? Or should I wait until I can vist the dojo 2 or 3 times a week?

I agree with Aerius, that some training is better than no training but you're going to advance at a very, very slow pace if you're going just once a week. In my club it takes a year of training to get to yellow and that is going at least 2-3x per week to get some level of consitency. Basic aikido training won't help you win any bar room brawls. The method of instruction that is taught in most dojos is usually the block-step method. You'll be shown a technique very slowly and you'll do each step in sequence. Slowly, you'll get better at it until you can do the technique really fast without getting hurt (takes time btw).

It all depends what you are looking to get out of aikido. My instructor believes in teaching weapons right away, others won't teach until green belt or up. Aikido won't help you burn alot of calories because you try to work less. Thus, if your goal is to lose weight then get in a pool or jump on a bike because you'll lose more weight that way. If your interested in Japanese culture and some martial discipline then Aikido will be for you! There are so many fascinating techinques and variations to those techniques that makes Aikido so wonderful and frustrating at the same time. Thus, be prepared to sacrifice a long period of time to get any deal of proficiency and practice any chance you get!

Have fun finding your dojo.

BTW a really interesting site for aikido would be
aikido faq[/url]

[Sidious]

Thanks for your input all!

You have that many, eh?

I have the addresses of 5 dojo's in the Phoenix metro area.

I agree with Aerius, that some training is better than no training but you're going to advance at a very, very slow pace if you're going just once a week.

This is my biggest concern. My current work hours just suck, as most dojo's start class between 7-8pm on weeknights and Im just getting out of work at 7:30. Still...even if I can only attend once a week at least I will be familiar with the instructor. So if my hours change and I can start attending 3x a week I will be more prepared.

[Next of Kin]

Sidious, best of wishes in your training. I'd be interested in reading your thoughts and experiences in the clubs that you visit. So if you wouldn't mind, please feel free to post what happens. I'd also like to know which styles you sat in on or participated in.

[Saurencaerthai]

I have moved towards brazillian jujitsu,

How are you liking that style? I've had a number of friends bugging me to learn it, and I think I'm probably going to go for it eventually.

[weemadando]

I have moved towards brazillian jujitsu,

How are you liking that style? I've had a number of friends bugging me to learn it, and I think I'm probably going to go for it eventually.

BJJ is pretty damn sweet. Effective and relatively simple.

[Next of Kin]

I have moved towards brazillian jujitsu,

How are you liking that style? I've had a number of friends bugging me to learn it, and I think I'm probably going to go for it eventually.

BJJ is pretty damn sweet. Effective and relatively simple.

I'll second that Weemad. The style that I'm learning can't be called Gracie Jujitsu because the instructor isn't certified to call it that (i.e. he hasn't paid the Gracie's for the use of their name) but we do alot of ground grappling, clinching, and kick boxing. Its very effective and it doesn't have 1000 of techniques to learn. Basically, the style borrows anything that works from other martial arts. The other instructor is an Uzbekistanian Sambo master and that really adds flavour to the mix!