Newcomer/Newbie - What Do I Need to Start?
This is a great site, have found some awesome information. I did some searching in some of the old posts, and came up empty handed with my search queries. So I thought I would ask here, sorry if it gets lengthy.
I am a new to any form of martial arts. I have a friend that is taking Aikido classes at her work, one of her coworkers is the instructor. Since the classes are through her employer and a employee the instruction for them is free. She asked about bringing me into the classes and the instructor said it was fine. I offered to pay him and he declined. Since then I have done extensive reading on Aikido, the art the history, requirements, the pricing in my area, ect.. With never having attended any martial arts, I am unsure on what all I need to start the classes. I don't want to look like a dummy and walk in unprepared, none of the equipment needed, or anything like that. When I asked my friend where she got her gear, she said Shidoshi gave it to her. Now with all that said do I need to go get a dogi and hakama? |
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Another art form has gotten my attention as well, Hapkido. I read a few posts on here regarding it and aikido. I wonder though, would it be better to focus on aikido first get a good feel for it then get in to hapkido?
Also when I do get a dogi is there anything else I need to get; like a mouth piece or anything? |
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Another friend of mine is 1st Dan in Hapkido besides him the only other person I would actually feel comfortable spar with lives in another state. I always thought that to get better at something, you match up with someone better than you.
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Re: Newcomer/Newbie - What Do I Need to Start?
Most teachers will let you start out in a t-shirt and sweats. Ask at the dojo. If you need a dogi right away, they are not expensive. For beginning aikido you shouldn't need anything else.
The only way you are going to answer your aikido/hapkido questions is with experience. Try them out and see what clicks with you. |
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As far as which art to go with is concerned, I would try or watch a class of each before you decide and not go on what you read or heard about them. I think that that you will find that there is a lot of sub par Hapkido out there where some TKD instructor just dabbles in Hapkido on the side. I know that is what happened to my brother when he tried to get into Hapkido. Ofcourse there is a lot of subpar Aikido out there as well.I had no idea what Aikido was when I randomly took a University credit course, and because I had an amazing teacher, I fell in love with the art. I think that technically the two are very simillar aside from Hapkido's greater emphasis on striking, and you should go with the art that has a better teacher in your area.
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Thank you so much for your replies. |
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Your best approach would be to show up, ask questions, start taking classes. The rest of your questions will quickly answer themselves once you do so.. and if they don't, you will now have resources that include your teachers and training partners as well as online to help answer those questions. Regards, |
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You will probably need something for your knees. When you walk on your knees the mat cover may hurt them a lot. The mat cover here in Mexico City is some type of plastic and can really hurt your knees AND the top of your feet when you get up to do a technique.
Wear socks or get special things for the feet. I bought something from the dojo where I practice at. Remember... knee protection & feet protection Possibly a rag to wipe the sweat. |
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hi aaron,
i think you will need to let go of all your pre conceptions and expectations of the martial art you want to study when you get on the mats. they might cloud your experience. just be open to what is coming and see if you enjoy it. good luck:) |
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Hi Aaron,
I agree with Tarik. Try enjoying being the "newbie" with no experience or preconceived ideas. There's nothing wrong with that and it can actually be enjoyable. Just go for jogging trousers, t-shirt and perhaps a water bottle. If you needed more than that, I hope the Sensei would have told you by now. Oh, personally, I'd be looking for an instructor higher than 1st Dan, so maybe put the Hapkido off until later. |
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Don't over think it. Doing is doing, thinking is thinking. Just show up. The instructor has seen many new people, nothing you do will surprise him.
Go find out if you like it. |
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The Hakama varies from school to school. in the form of Aikido i study men do not wear one until Shodan, and women do not wear one until Sankyu. So dont worry about buying one until notified by your instructor. And then also you may need a Jo staff/ Boken(practice sword)/ Tanto(practice knife). But everything varies from school to school. so just dont worry about it, go to ur first class in gym shorts/ t shirt and check everything out, just ask your Sensei what you need, or ask one of the higher ranking students (or your friend). But just relax and take it slow, have a good time. Dont over-think things too much ;) in Aiki, morgan |
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