New to Aikido, can't decide...

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[Ahrah]

Hi, I am new to martial arts in general, but my neighbors are both black belts in Aikido. I took a class under one of them )she is a teacher more 'officially' there) and i loved it. i have not done anything physical in a year, but I can never remember doing anything so physically demanding! I am still sore! I want to start doing it regularly, but my dad is very against it (because I had a gym membership that I stopped using after 3 months...ugh...he keeps using that against me!).
I love the flowing, spiritual aspect to the art and I hope to start anyway, so I thought I'd say hello while I am trying to convince my parents that this won't be a 'one time' thing!

Again, hello!

[akiy]

Hi Karyna,

Welcome and thank you for your introduction. You may want to try starting this topic in a section other than "Introductions" as doing so will most likely get more people to view and respond to it...

-- Jun

[Janet Rosen]

so I thought I'd say hello while I am trying to convince my parents that this won't be a 'one time' thing!

Most dojo don't require you to pay more than a month in advance. My experience (and I'm close to 50 yrs old, maybe older than your parents) is that money spent on taking a basic class in almost anything is money well spent, as it helps one define one's interests.
Woodworking, knitting, working with birds of prey, and fencing are four things that I was interested in, took very basic, short term classes in when I was in my 30s, and found out that I was in fact not interested in pursuing. But now I need never wonder or have regrets.
If money is tight at home, that certainly might influence your parents' attitude! In that case, if you have some part time work or chores/allowance that you can save towards paying at least part of the dojo dues, they might be more favorable inclined. It never hurts to see what is negotiable!

best of luck.

[Ron Tisdale]

I really like Janet's suggestion. By owning the financial commitment, you own the practice. Even if you only come up with part of the fees. I see you list Norristown as your home...is that Norristown PA? I'm not far from there, in North Wales. There are many good dojo in the area...the one headed by David Goldberg, the Seishinkan, comes immediately to mind. If you train there, tell him Ron Tisdale said hello...
Ron

[Ahrah]

Yes, it is in PA. the dojo I am looking at is actually in walking distance!

As for the financial part, i have been independent in almost everything but 'rent' (there's a laugh) because I am on full (covers around 80% of all fews and what not) scholarship at school. i have a near-ull time job (around 20 hours a week) and am responsible, yet I am some times treated like a drug-addicted red-haired step child :p.

When you join this dojo, it's around 300 up front for the 1st three months and you ASU fee.

That's a bit of a commitment for me!!!

[Don_Modesto]

There are many good dojo in the area...the one headed by David Goldberg, the Seishinkan, comes immediately to mind.

Ron, is he the ASU swordsmith?

[Ron Tisdale]

Yup. He makes some pretty fine stuff too...he was at the Utada/Ikeda seminar last fall and brought a few of his smaller pieces for folks to see. I almost got this sweet little tanto that was perfect for a neck sheath.... :)

Uh...yeah, that's him alright!

Karyna Sylinia, if you mention to him that you are a student, you might get a break. A lot of instructors will work with you as long as you show you are serious. There is also a dojo in Lower Providence that is good...I used to train with that instructor, Jeff Bowden, when we were both under Goldberg Sensei. Both fine places to train.

Ron

[Janet Rosen]

Karyna Sylinia, if you mention to him that you are a student, you might get a break. A lot of instructors will work with you as long as you show you are serious.

I agree it is surely worth a try to see if you can pay the ASU fee and first month up front?