What can a beginning aikidoka expect in their first and subsequent classes?

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[OldManJim]

The owner of the dojo I mentioned in my previous post (was gonna go check it out for the first time tonight) texted me and can't make it on account of work purposes, so it's two days from now. What can I expect as a beginner in my first class? I've taken martial arts before but not aikido so I was just trying to see what might be shown to me. Come on guys, dust off those brains and share some of your memories :)

[lbb]

It depends entirely on the school and the teacher and the class (and on you). What I've seen is usually quite a bit of time spent on basic footwork, and then on basic ukemi (falls and rolls).

[Shadowfax]

I can't tell you what to expect from your teacher but I ca share a little about what a beginner can expect where I train.

First thing is that,it depends on if it is a beginners course or just a random new person walking in the door. If it is just a random new person they will be asked to come and observe only for one class before joining in.

After that it is more or less the same. Beginners course first class will include:
Warm ups
Rocking practice graduating up to taking a back fall
Tenkan
Probably Irimi (entering exercise)
A simple technique-usually sumiotoshi
Possibly a second technique Katatedori shihonage(ura) or kotegaeshi
If Garth is teaching he usually does a short demo on different reasons we fall down in aikido. (Mechanical, Pain and ki)
Bow out

The classes can vary a little on which techniques we do or how many depending on who is teaching, how much attention a beginner needs for each of these things and how large the class is.

After class sensei will often add some details about membership and answer any questions the beginners might have.

Beginners just humping on during regular classes will get the same as above but it might come more formatted toward the more advanced students in the class. If this is the case the student that the new person works with each time, will work down to the beginner;s level and help them at a slower pace to understand what is being taught. At times sensei will pair the more advanced students at the opposite end of the mat and give them something else to work on and will then give the beginner more personalized time.

But that's my dojo. Each teacher is going to have their own take on how to introduce new members to aikido. :)

[Mary Eastland]

When a new student comes into our dojo we welcome them. We focus the class on them in a way that they don't know that the focus is on them. We do basic everything that is good for all of us. We teach them how to fall in the first class and keep a close eye on them the whole class.

The new student will be paired with our most experienced people for the whole class. At the end of class we bow out and welcome them back to the next class where they will be treated the same way until they are ready for something else.

[Shadowfax]

Beginners just humping on during regular classes will get the same as above but it might come more formatted toward the more advanced students in the class)

:freaky: Jumping in. I meant jumping in....

This is why not being able to edit posts long after you realized that spell check never works on real words that are wrong words comes in handy. :rolleyes:

[OldManJim]

Shadowfox I just noticed your home state is PA. The sensei im going to start training under has Masutani Sensei of Pittsburgh as one of his overseeing instructors. And let's go Pens!

[Hilary]

See! There is the problem, once you start humping in, everyone want to be your uke.

[GMaroda]

See! There is the problem, once you start humping in, everyone want to be your uke.

I think my wife is going to make me stop going to the dojo. :blush:

[Janet Rosen]

Back to exploring marital arts, are we?

[Janet Rosen]

to the original poster: to some degree which techniques are taught in first class will vary from dojo to dojo based on THEIR "basics" - with us it is always shoulder grab/ikkyo, in my first dojo it was sumiotoshi and suwariwaza ikkyo.
But opening exercises, learning some rolls and some openings is pretty standard.
We don't have separate beginners class but when there is a beginner in basics class (which is really all-levels) the instructor goes back to square one - after warmups, rolling (beginner goes 1:1 with a senior student), ki exercises and jo, it's review of safe space then katatori ikkyo.

[phitruong]

expect nothing. why rob yourself the opportunity/enjoyment to experience new thing for the first time? just enjoy your first humping in..... i meant jumping in with guys in skirts. :)

[Shadowfax]

Shadowfox I just noticed your home state is PA. The sensei im going to start training under has Masutani Sensei of Pittsburgh as one of his overseeing instructors. And let's go Pens!

Excellent! Masutani sensei's dojo is just a few miles from us. We often train with some of their people and attend one another's seminars. :) They are really good people and loads of fun to train with.

Gregg.... your wife would never make you stop coming to the dojo. :p

[GMaroda]

So Jim, did you make it to the Dojo?

And Cherie, my wife goes nuts if I spend too many days without getting any practice in! Probably because I go nuts.

[PeterR]

If its a beginners class - lots of basics and maybe a couple of simple techniques.

If its a big regular class - maybe a few extra safety breakfall training on the side.

Most times - whatever is being done coupled with a lot of confusion. You'll get over that.

[OldManJim]

Well I was gonna go to the dojo Thursday night but I saw this guy on YouTube named Master Ken that basically says all martial arts are bull...ameri do te so I'm signing up with him ��. Hope you guys got a good Saturday laugh from that. No I didn't make it, the dreaded strep hit my house so it will be next Tuesday. Which works out better, so if I do like it (ie I'm not out of shape to bad) I can start my monthly payments the next class. Basically they have a Japanese jj class and he had like 3 aikido students, who he isn't sure can make it on acct of losing their employment. So it may just be me and him.

[Mark Uttech]

Onegaishimasu, a beginning aikido can't know what to expect. The Buddha taught: "come and see".
And it's not even as simple as that! Like anything else, see what sort of experience you have. It may be a little different than someone else's experience. The journey begins with a step, but it doesn't stay with a step.

[GMaroda]

Ah, Ameri-do-te! I have my official white belt certificate in that art. So that makes me better than a 12th Dan in any other art.

I just do Aikido because I like the dress.

[OldManJim]

Lol