What age did you start Aikido ?

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[Gallu]

I'm 26 years old And will hopefully be starting my training in about a month. I was wondering if anyone else started their training in their mid 20's ? And how long you have trained.

Thanks
Sean

[Thomas Ambrose]

I started training Aikido about four months ago, and I am 24 years old. This is the only martial art experience I have yet had, and I absolutely love it! I hope you enjoy it!

[Bronson]

I too started aikido at 26, just passed my eighth year last month. Wow, how time flies :D

Bronson

[bob_stra]

I'm 26 years old And will hopefully be starting my training in about a month. I was wondering if anyone else started their training in their mid 20's ? And how long you have trained.

Thanks
Sean

Yep - mid 20's. Haven't done it for a while, but will eventually go back to it.

[xuzen]

Started in my university days (early twenties), 9 years later still loving it.

Boon.

[giriasis]

I started at 29. I'm 34, now.

[Michael Meister]

I was 26 when I stumbled into Aikido, about four year ago.

[emceul]

I started a few weeks ago and i`m also 26 years old...

[kienergy1234]

im 24 started aikido at 23,i love it

[aikidoc]

23 or 24, had a gap but have been doing it about 15 years total. I'm 55 now. Still loving it.

[Peter Goldsbury]

I'm 26 years old And will hopefully be starting my training in about a month. I was wondering if anyone else started their training in their mid 20's ? And how long you have trained.

Thanks
Sean

Hello Sean,

Why "hopefully"? Is there a problem?

I began when I was 25 in 1969 and I am still training. However, from hindsight, I really wish I had started earlier�\as they all say.

Best regards,

[Larry Feldman]

Started at 21, after 4 years of Ju Jitsu I moved and couldn't find a good Ju Jitsu school so I started in Aikido. "Late 40's" now.

Told my father I was sorry he didn't drag us to a dojo earlier.

Not a problem with my kids, one's in karate, one in judo.

Sean - if you are in Albuquerque and you take a look at the Shin Budo Kai dojo tell them I said hello.

[Richard Cardwell]

Started just over a year ago, at 16.

[Jill N]

Hi all:

I started at 39 years old. (10 years ago). I wish I had started earlier, but I don't regret starting, and I think I get just as much out of aikido as the young pups, just different. I must admit, I don't like to do the big breakfalls, 'cause I pay for it for a few days afterwards, and life gives me enough aches and pains without adding to it. (yes, I know how to do them, and I don't wimp out if it is needed) Anyhow, I encourage anyone to start and to practice to their own tolerance level. I think it is good for everyone to practice with as diverse a group of folks as possible.
PS- my son started at age 7 and he is still on the mat at 17.

e ya later
Jill

[AsimHanif]

I started at 30. I'm 40 now. I've been doing some form of MA's since I was 10.

[Gallu]

Hello Sean,

Why "hopefully"? Is there a problem?

I began when I was 25 in 1969 and I am still training. However, from hindsight, I really wish I had started earlier�\as they all say.

Best regards,

The hopefully is because I have to be appoved for training at the Dojo in my area.

[Gallu]

Started at 21, after 4 years of Ju Jitsu I moved and couldn't find a good Ju Jitsu school so I started in Aikido. "Late 40's" now.

Told my father I was sorry he didn't drag us to a dojo earlier.

Not a problem with my kids, one's in karate, one in judo.

Sean - if you are in Albuquerque and you take a look at the Shin Budo Kai dojo tell them I said hello.

Larry

I'm in Alamogordo Nm. But my be moving on to somewhere else soon.

[SeiserL]

Started at 2 X 22 = 44. Been training 3 X week for 10 years.

[Brehan Crawford]

I started at 24 and just passed my one-year anniversary about a month ago, but it barely feels like a week has gone by. Like everyone else I wish I'd have started earlier but if it wasn't the right time I wouldn't be sticking with it.

Hopefully I'll be practicing for the rest of my life. :D

[senseimike]

I started at age 14 and am now 28. Nearing 15 years in the art, and I have the pleasure of being one of the very few of my Sensei's original students left around. It's kind of a strange feeling at 28 years of age being considered one of the "old men" of the dojo.

Best of luck in everyone's continued training

[charron]

I started at the turn of the milenium at an young age of 51! Still trying to do it all! Don't plan on slowing down till I get older. :)

[Patrick]

started at 24 now 25

[Yokaze]

I began my training at the age of 19. That was just under 2 years ago. You're never too old to begin learning. :D

[Tommy_S]

I began my training at the age of 19.... Me too..... that was exactly 5 years ago. :)

[Alphete]

I started about 2 years and a half...when I was 27.
And it's a train with one-way ticket only.... :p
I'm starting to prepare my 3rd Kyu exam...(hopefully by end of this year/ begining of next year).
What I see is that most of us started way passed our mid 20's...do we changed our way of thinking about life at that age??
Also Aikido is my first martial art experience...

[Gallu]

How has Aikido changed the way you handle stress in your daily life.

[kironin]

I started at age 31, now 43 going on 25. :p

You do the math, I don't think about how long I have trained.
I only think about practice today or tommorrow.

I would say don't wait!!!
get busy with it!

[daniel loughlin]

I started when i was 8 and now am 15 (weapons training in january :D)

[John Ashton]

i started 8 years ago at age 19

[AsimHanif]

Pablo,
that is my belief. If you've been very physical or athletic most of your life you may come to realize your physical limitations in your mid to late 20's.
I think it takes a very special person to come to aikido early in life.

[Niadh]

Started @ 17 in 1986. Some of that time has bee spent in erratic practice for a varity of reasons.

[Lan Powers]

Started at 42...44 now. It is something I truly have searched for for most of my life.
Sucks when you live in the boonies.
Lan

[stuartjvnorton]

Started at 26, now 32.
Dabbled in various bits & pieces before that, but nothing that really captured my imagination like this.

[Aikiscott]

I started as a plump 29yo and have been training for 4 years. I'm still plump but I bounce well.

[Robyn Johnson]

My mom and I both started Aikido in July of 2000. She was 49 at the time and I was 18. Now she's 54 and I'm almost 23. We're still loving it. :cool:

Robyn :ai: :ki: :do:

[blue176]

Im looking at akido right now as well, im 23.... to those who have started somewhere near my age.....with a good degree of dedication and a good instructor how long does it take someone to be skilled at it i gues syou could say

[maikerus]

Im looking at akido right now as well, im 23.... to those who have started somewhere near my age.....with a good degree of dedication and a good instructor how long does it take someone to be skilled at it i gues syou could say

There's a story that goes something like this:

A young man wanted to study a martial art and visited the master to see about training. "Master," he asked, "if I train with you once a week, how long will it take me to become good?"

The master replied "It will take you 5 years."

The young man thought some more and asked "Master, If I were to train with you twice a week, how long will it be before I become good?".

The master replied "It will take you 10 years."

The young man was a little confused, but thought again and asked "Master, If I were to train with you every day, how long will it be before I become good?"

The master replied "It will take you a lifetime."

[blue176]

yah im a little confused myself from hearing that

[blue176]

nm...the only one who can answer my question is myself. i got it now!

[MaryKaye]

I did nine months of kung fu when I was 37, but quit when my knees started to hurt. Started aikido at 39, loved it, and when my knees started to hurt I went to a sports doctor and developed some exercises to protect them. I was having way, way too much fun to stop. I'm 41 now. This turns out to be a bit younger than average for my dojo.

One of my sempai passed his shodan last weekend at age 61. Wow. I want to look like that when I'm 61. And take breakfalls like that!

Mary Kaye

[CNYMike]

I started Aikido when I was 22, about a year and a half after I'd started karate. I did both for about 18 months, and then dropped aikido, although I kept some of the wrist stretches in my own workout.

I picked up Aikido again at the end of March; I turned 40 last month. So altogether I have maybe two years of Aikido under my belt with a long gap in between.

[emceul]

A: When did you begin the study of martial arts?

O Sensei: At about the age of 14 or 15. First I learned Tenshinyo-ryu Jujitsu from Tozawa Tokusaburo Sensei, then Kito-ryu, Yagyu Ryu, Aioi-ryu, Shinkage-ryu, all of them Jujitsu forms. However, I thought there might be a true form of Budo elsewhere. I tried Hozoin-ryu Sojitsu and Kendo. But all of these arts are concerned with one-to-one combat forms and they could not satisfy me. So I visited many parts of the country seeking the Way and training. . . but all in vain.

B: When did Aikido come into being?

O Sensei: As I said before, I went to many places seeking the true Budo... Then, when I was about 30 years old, I settled in Hokkaido. On one occasion, while staying at Hisada Inn in Engaru, Kitami Province, I met a certain Takeda Sokaku Sensei of the Aizu clan. He taught Daito-ryu Jujitsu. During the 30 days in which I learned from him I felt something like an inspiration. Later, I invited this teacher to my home and together with 15 or 16 of my employees became a student seeking the essence of Budo

B: Did you discover Aikido while you were learning Daito-ryu under Takeda Sokaku?

O Sensei: No. It would be more accurate to say that Takeda Sensei opened my eyes to Budo.

A: Then were there any special circumstances surrounding your discovery of Aikido?

O Sensei: Yes. It happened this way. My father became critically ill in 1918. I requested leave from Takeda Sensei and set out for my home. On my way home, I was told that if you went to Ayabe near Kyoto and dedicated a prayer then any disease would be cured. So, I went there and met Deguchi Onisaburo. Afterwards, when I arrived home, I learned that my father was already dead. Even though I had met Deguchi only once, I decided to move to Ayabe with my family and I ended up staying until the latter part of the Taisho period (around 1925). Yes . . . at that time I was about 40 years old. One day I was drying myself off by the well. Suddenly, a cascade of blinding golden flashes came down from the sky enveloping my body. Then immediately my body became larger and larger, attaining the size of the entire universe. While overwhelmed by this experience I suddenly realized that one should not think of trying to win. The form of Budo must be love. One should live in love. This is Aikido and this is the old form of the posture in Kenjitsu. After this realization I was overjoyed and could not hold back the tears.

[skeener]

i'm 18 yrs old...only 3 weeks past since my first class..so far all the moves and techniques in aikido are way too cool !! love it very much :D

[batemanb]

Aikido found me when I was 27, been practicing 3 times a week (until recently when my wife started and someone has to stay with the little one, she's mid 30's,) I'll be 40 in a few weeks time. Like many, I wish it had come upon me earlier, although I may not have been ready for it then. My sons are luckier, one has recently started at 15, the other (can't keep him out of the dojo) will be joining my junior class as a 7 year old in a couple of years.

rgds

Bryan

[Clayton Drescher]

started the week of my 20th birthday, almost a year and a half ago

[Robert Townson]

I joined my club at 24 with my older brother (27). He left after about 6months and I am still going strong, a year later. I'm impressed with myself really... I have a history of starting something and then getting bored of it and then quitting. But not with Aikido.

I have even started to study another art (Iaido) to help, and I am really enjoying that too.

Like others I wish I had started earlier, but I know that I wouldn't have been ready and probably would have quit after a couple of months or the first time that I landed on my head :)

[Aiki U-Dansha]

I've started my practice at 13 years old circa...and i'm now 28\29 (in a month i'll be 29) .

[Mark Balogh]

18, lot's of people I speak to who keep it up seem to have started at this age. :)

[happysod]

18 (freshers bazaars have a lot to answer for - I blame the habit of putting good looking women next to a man in a skirt with sharp swordy-thing as just plain advertising gone bad. Sad thing is, it worked...)

[batemanb]

18 (freshers bazaars have a lot to answer for - I blame the habit of putting good looking women next to a man in a skirt with sharp swordy-thing as just plain advertising gone bad. Sad thing is, it worked...)


Aaaah, we're doing a demo for the OU freshers in a couple of weeks, we'll use that plan, oh, we don't have any attractive women (except my wife :) who can't be there on the day), I'll have to get one of the other hakamas to put some make up on :D.

[bennettdjr]

I started bout 3 months ago. Im 17.

[Diarmuid66]

Its never too late to start! I started following serious knee and elbow damage playing Rugby....my Doctors had told me I would never be able take part in a serious "contact" sport again.....that was when I was 23 , 14 years ago ...guess my doctors might be quite surprised seeing me compete in international competitions or ukeing for my sensei!!
ps when I started my knee was so shot I couldn`t kneel ..Aikido can be therapeutic.!!

[Dan Gould]

I'll be 19 in three weeks, mate, I only started tonight :-) You got the up on me, hehe

[Janet Rosen]

I started at age 41. At this rate, I'll pay for my yudansha fees out of my first social security check......

[alvink81]

Hi There,
Started at 22... but like everyone else, wished I'd done it earlier :)

alvin

[Niadh]

There's a story that goes something like this:

A young man wanted to study a martial art and visited the master to see about training. "Master," he asked, "if I train with you once a week, how long will it take me to become good?"

The master replied "It will take you 5 years."

The young man thought some more and asked "Master, If I were to train with you twice a week, how long will it be before I become good?".

The master replied "It will take you 10 years."

The young man was a little confused, but thought again and asked "Master, If I were to train with you every day, how long will it be before I become good?"

The master replied "It will take you a lifetime."

When you have one eye focused on the goal, you only have one eye to focus on your learning!!

[PeterR]

When you have one eye focused on the goal, you only have one eye to focus on your learning!!
Goals provide focus.

[Bronson]

Goals provide focus.

Agreed. Since going back to college I am much more focused as I now have an educational/carrer goal.

However, part of the draw for me in aikido training is that it is essentially a goal-less practice. I practice it for the sake of practicing it. My only real goals now are to show up and do my best. Of course I guess you could say that now my goal is to actually have no goal ;) :D

YMMV, and I'm sure it probably does.....you aiki-heathen :)

Bronson

[PeterR]

Not to destroy an delusions (about my thugginess) or to hijack a thread but ....

My work requires intense concentration and creative thinking not to mention a certain amount of pressure. Probably because of that my approach to Aikido is what I call organic. Of course I watch for the nuances of what is done during class and try to replicate them but I don't worry about remembering past the current lesson. If it is important I will see it again. I also don't worry about grading until it is time to grade. Then for a period of time I focus on that.

I do however react when people imply that setting short and long term goals is somehow a bad thing. That obtaining rank is somehow not Aiki. For me a person who does not take grades in their dojos fashion out of principle is as disruptive as one who insists on grading before his time.

I started Aikido at 35 am 42 now.

Agreed. Since going back to college I am much more focused as I now have an educational/carrer goal.

However, part of the draw for me in aikido training is that it is essentially a goal-less practice. I practice it for the sake of practicing it. My only real goals now are to show up and do my best. Of course I guess you could say that now my goal is to actually have no goal ;) :D

YMMV, and I'm sure it probably does.....you aiki-heathen :)

Bronson

[Bronson]

Not to destroy an delusions (about my thugginess)....

Walk to the light Peter. You're almost there, just a few more steps.... :hypno:

Bronson ;)

[PeterR]

I have an image of Bronson and myself facing each other in the old Aiki manner.

Two masters of their craft, not moving, waiting for the other to make a mistake .......

Who will win - the tea sipping, Ki hopping, tree hugging Bronson, or the rakishly handsome aiki-thug.
:D

[batemanb]

Who will win - the tea sipping, Ki hopping, tree hugging Bronson, or the rakishly handsome aiki-thug.
:D

I haven't met Bronson, but I have met you Peter, and I'm sure Bronson is the the more handsome :D

rgds

Bryan

[maikerus]

When you have one eye focused on the goal, you only have one eye to focus on your learning!!

Hmm...I took the story to mean that the more you study the more you know you don't know so the longer it takes for you to study which means that you learn more which means you find out there is still more you don't understand which means...etc..which means that the goal of being a master is forever out of reach.

Kind of like drawing a line and labeling one end A and one end B. The goal is to get from A to B and to do that you divide the line in half...and then divide the half that's left in half...and then divide that half that's left in half. All that happens is you get real close to B, but you can never get there.

I really hope that made sense. For my next lesson I will talk about how a mobius strip applies to irimi nage <wry grin>

cheers,

--Michael...who started Aikido at 18 and is now 38 <ack!>

[Stone]

I started in April 2000 at age 33 1/2 and now 38. It was my first and only martial arts experience, but enjoying it immensely. Hope to test for Shodan sometime in 2005. And yes, I wish I started 10 years earlier - before I had bad knees...

[PeterR]

I haven't met Bronson, but I have met you Peter, and I'm sure Bronson is the the more handsome :D
:(

[Bronson]

I haven't met Bronson, but I have met you Peter, and I'm sure Bronson is the the more handsome :D

Thanks for the vote of confidence Bryan....but I wouldn't be too sure. I'm a bald guy with glasses and that's just not attractive....right Peter ;)

Bronson

[Bronson]

the rakishly handsome aiki-thug.


Thanks now I have another oxymoron to add to my list.


jumbo shrimp
little big man
military intelligence
mortorcylce saftey
rap music
rakishly handsome aiki-thug


:D :D :D

Bronson

[Christy S]

I started training in Aikido when I was seven, but grew up with it all around me. I'm 19 now.

[Olivia_S]

I'm 26 and been learning for 2 months.

I don't know how many times I've heard people say "If only I knew then what I know now". Unfortunately our bodies and brains aren't at their peak at the same time! No matter when you start, you will either be too old or too young in some way :D

[Kevin Masters]

Um... The first time I started I was 24, but I took a 5-year break. And even then it wasn't full time. Officially I started at 29. I've been practicing full time for about 2 years and 2 months.
I'm 31?! How did that happen? :confused:

[j0nharris]

I was 26 when I stumbled into Aikido, about four year ago.

I've been at it 10 years, and I'm still stumbling
:D

[justinm]

Started aged 20. Now 42. Lost count of the number of times I've given up and then restarted. Usually on the same day.

Started again last week when I visited another dojo and figured out I'd been drifting for a while.

Usually it feels like I've been doing it a couple of years, sometimes less.

[garry cantrell]

17 (just a week before turning 18)
46 now but haven't practiced more than 3X over the past 4 years. yeah, yeah, i know.

[otto]

Started at around 25...
29 now and still going..

[pezalinski]

Started when I was 21, now 39, and (finally) heading for Shodan...Lots of starts and stops and changes in location & instructors. I'm glad I'm not the only one!

[Jerry Miller]

I started at around age 12. I was a long time ago. It is a shame that I did not keep it up, but my family moved. Starting over with bad knees is humbling.

[CNYMike]

I first studied Aikido when I was 22; I'd been doing karate for a year and a half at that point, and I did both for a year and a half before dropping aikido.

I picked it up again at the end of March, and am now doing Aikido, karate, Kali, Serak, and Tai Chi. However, since the Aikido dojo I'm in now does the techniques a little differently from the Seidokan dojo I was in back then, I'm pretty much starting over from scratch at the age of 40.

Does that answer your question?

What was your question? :hypno:

:cool:

[CNYMike]

My mom and I both started Aikido in July of 2000. She was 49 at the time and I was 18. Now she's 54 and I'm almost 23. We're still loving it. :cool:

Robyn :ai: :ki: :do:

:sorry: My mom and I started Tai Chi in November of 2000, when she was 78. After doing it for over a year, I saw how it was benfitting my other training.

In March of 2003, Mom passed away. I continue going to Tai Chi, thoughfor the reasons I mentioned above. That we had done it together for as long we did is one reason I have so few regrets.

So enjoy the training with your mom, and don't let anyone tell you different!

:sorry: