New Students

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[Grasshopper]

Just got onto Aikiweb yesterday at work... Absolutely brilliant, if you ask me :D

I've only been training for a year so far, and what inspired me to join was my (now!) fiance and I seeing a martial arts demonstration at uni, and just going "WOW" during the aikido presentation. Most of my training has been at the uni, so at the start of every semester, zillions of students join up, and only 5 or so live the semester out with at most 2 of them returning after the break.

Does this happen at "normal" dojos? Don't get me wrong, the aerobics hall where we train is as much "dojo" to me as the other dojo with the sliding doors and permanent mats, I'm just curious as to how other dojos integrate rank beginners, and whether there seems to be a "season" for them.

Yoroshiku!

[JJF]

Hi Diana!

Some time ago there was a discussion concerning what percentage of new students that hang around until they reach shodan. Many voted 1 percent or less.

In the dojo I go to, now and then new students appear. Some come for free training once or twice - a few enroll, and not many stick around for a year or longer.

Usually we get the most new students in august / september just when new kids move to the city to go to the university, but we allow new students all around the year.

We don't do a special program for beginners. We just take good care of them during class :D

[ian]

For some students, it appears that if their friends stop, they tend to stop. (many people are to afraid to start a martial art on their own). Maybe an increased social aspect to aikido can prevent this?

Ian

[Grasshopper]

it appears that if their friends stop, they tend to stop.
Curiously enough, at the start of last semester, most of the new students joined up on their own, and they stuck it through... But true enough, the ones who joined with a friend only came with that friend.

The university dojo doesn't run any social events for the aikido club, probably because the one of the two sensei is also the National Secretary for Aikikai Australia, and the other is a high school English teacher :D I wonder if they would be interested if I offered to organise social events for our budding aikidoka - I'd love to get more involved (guilt for not coming to practise for a few months ;) ) in that sense.

Or I could promote Aikiweb to them ;)

Thanks for the great idea!

- Grasshopper