I didn't have any martial arts experience when I walked into this dojo over a year ago. I signed up…read morefor the Intro Class series, which was $50 and included 4 special classes and a "gi" or uniform, and discounted dues if you register (a great bargain). The instructors talked about the history and philosophy of Aikido, started teaching the basics (stance, footwork, blending exercises), and gradually built things up into a full technique. The atmosphere was very welcoming. I remember feeling a slight panic when everyone started to pair up on my first day, but then a smiling black belt came sliding into view and coached me through all the steps.
It was the people (and the cool moves) that kept me coming back. I didn't think I'd be able to roll, but now I'm doing dozens of them each day. I'm not very good at dancing, and am terrible with my feet, but now it seems I have some basic footwork patterns etched into muscle memory. At first, I was overwhelmed with all the strange sounding Japanese names, but now I have a very clear catalog in my head of the different attacks, blends, techniques, and variations. I credit a lot of this to the beginners or "basics" classes held on Thursday evenings and Sunday mornings. They are incredibly valuable for the new student.
Now I find that I'm really taking advantage of what the dojo has to offer. It's a lot, and it's affordable! Unlike other dojos, the Sensei here are all volunteers, people with a passion. You get to learn from 6 or more instructors, of very high rank, with decades of experience. In addition to the beginner or basics classes, there are regular classes (can be quite intense), a special "ukemi" class (rolling, falling, and how to stay safe when you receive a technique), and classes on weapons: the "bokken" (wooden sword) and "jo" (short staff). If you really want to dive in, there are a total of 10 classes each week.
Students at the dojo train hard, but they also like to have fun. It's not unusual to grab lunch or dinner after class, and there's a movie night once a month, where a martial art movie is projected onto the wall. There are also a number of potlucks to celebrate special occasions.
So if you're looking to develop yourself (physically and mentally), learn techniques that can be applied in a self-defense situation, and connect with a great community, this is the place to be. But be forewarned, you might end up spending the next 20 years trying to master the subtlest of nuances!
