Aikido Style / Affiliations

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[anthonycbs]

Hello Everyone,
I am interested in learning Aikido. I am currently looking for a Dojo. I was wondering what are the differences in the Aikido Styles? What are the different Affiliations? I would appreciate if someone cold explain these differences.....

Thank You!
Chris

[Greg Jennings]

I'd suggest doing an archive search through the forums here. You could also review http://www.aikidofaq.com/ and, particularly, http://www.aikidojournal.com/ .

To summarize most of what you'll find, including a current thread here, it's not the style or the affiliation, it's the teacher that makes the difference. You should try out all the teachers in your area and pick the one that best suits you.

Best regards,

[batemanb]

Chris,

Greg just beat me to posting, try here

http://www.aikidofaq.com/introduction.html

His advice is good too, go visit everyone before choosing.

rgds

Bryan

[SeiserL]

IMHO, don't worry about style of affiliations. The separation and distinctions along political lines has only hurt Aikido. Just go visit the schools that are avaiable to you and make you choice based on the one that best meets your needs.

[George S. Ledyard]

Ditto all the others about shopping for a teacher, not a style.

Go watch class. See how beginners are treated by the Sensei. See how beginners ar treated by the senior folks. Watch an advanced class and see how the students interact.

Notice I am saying look at the students alot... that's because they will truely reflect what is being taught at that dojo regardless of what the Chief Instructor says. Any experienced instructor can sound good when you are a beginner but the students will reflect in their attitudes exactly what the Sensei is modelling.

If you see a bunch of arrogant or rough and violent behavior in the senior students, that's what is being taught. If you see a group of people that you'd like to be a part of, you are probably at the right place.

The teachers history and credentials are important but finding a compatible group to train with is just as important.

[Larry Murray]

When following Ledyard Sensei's advice, great advice by the way, also see if the students are paying attention to Sensei and what is being said. And when the class begins practice of the technique Sensei has shown, notice if they are in fact working on what Sensei demonstrated, or if they are just doing something they wish to do. This will give a good indication of the respect the students have for Sensei. And in almost all cases, if the proper respect is shown to Sensei, that respect is extended to all in the class.