starting a dojo?

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[Nobleronin4]

I've never really taken AIKIDO before. My only exposure to the art was a one time class many years ago. There are no dojos in my area. Within a 20-25 mile radius of my city (Macon, GA) there are 250,000 - 275,000 people. If any one has any information on how to get a dojo started in an area please let know.

[Thalib]

This poses a lot of problem for people who wants to learn Aikido, location.

We have the same problem here in Indonesia. Most Aikido dojos are located in major cities. Also that Aikido is not in all major cities. It is quite limited down here. The most dojo that one can find is here in Jakarta area.

I'll just write down a sample case here:
A fellow student of the dojo I trained in lived quite far away. But he sacrificed his time and make every effort to come to the dojo and train. After he ranked his 3rd kyu, he asked our sensei if he could open a dojo in his area. He got my sensei's permission.

He teaches the class, with our sensei controlling the class every once or twice a month. My sensei in turn also make the time and effort to visit his student's dojo. The student that open the dojo also still comes to our dojo once in a while.
I know three similar cases like the above.

Opening a dojo:



Find somebody experienced in Aikido. A yudansha is a must. A high kyu ranking student is still needed to be backed up by a yudansha and an experienced dojo.

Find a place to train. Indoors are better, but it doesn't close the possibilities of outdoor trainings.

Mattresses or tatamis are actually needed to avoid any injury.

Be affiliated to more experienced dojos.

The lack of yudanshas here in Indonesia forced us to be more proactive. Seniors becoming assistant instructors, almost like an uchi-deshi, which teach classes in the sensei's absence.

[Bud]

That's the same problem we have here. Most of the dojos are in Manila or some of the other major cities. Even around Manila there are few aikido dojos in comparison to its size. The only way aikido dojos open outside of the cities is when a yudansha settles in an area and opens a school to keep training.
This poses a lot of problem for people who wants to learn Aikido, location.

We have the same problem here in Indonesia. Most Aikido dojos are located in major cities. Also that Aikido is not in all major cities. It is quite limited down here. The most dojo that one can find is here in Jakarta area.

I'll just write down a sample case here:

I know three similar cases like the above.

Opening a dojo:



Find somebody experienced in Aikido. A yudansha is a must. A high kyu ranking student is still needed to be backed up by a yudansha and an experienced dojo.

Find a place to train. Indoors are better, but it doesn't close the possibilities of outdoor trainings.

Mattresses or tatamis are actually needed to avoid any injury.

Be affiliated to more experienced dojos.



The lack of yudanshas here in Indonesia forced us to be more proactive. Seniors becoming assistant instructors, almost like an uchi-deshi, which teach classes in the sensei's absence.

[Dean H.]

There are good choices in Atlanta, which should only be about 85 miles from you.

I have driven from Birmingham 165 + miles to train with three dojos there. You can choose from AAA and Yamada organizations, mostly, but you can also find Shihan Obata's representatives.

Hope this helps,

Dean

[Williamross77]

did you find the university dojo in student activities on campus, sound like they are right in your back door?