Is there an 'intensity' rating for dojos?
 

I'll be moving to Tampa FL and I wanted to know if the dojos there are either martially intense with self-defense in mind or just exercise oriented where they just take turns falling down. A guy in my dojo just got back from ???Panama IIRC for a language study and said the two dojos he went to were mickey-mouse where they don't punch/grab realistically they just took turns doing the move without any resistance. I kinda doubt there's an 'intensity' rating for dojos or I would have found it by now but I thought I'd ask anyway.

I don't know Florida, and don't know if this dojo is in your vicinity, but the instructor is EXCELLENT. Please visit the website and see if this is in your general area....

http://www.floridaaikikai.com/

If you're in Tampa, go the little distance to the following place. You will not be disappointed.....

www.theaikidodojo.com

then stop by here once in awhile;

www.shindai.com

-Mongo

Understand the concern of your question, but having a rating system would seem somewhat judgemental, labeling, and subjective in nature.

To have a rating system of some sort would kinda defeat the true nature of aikido!

Not that I profess to like "dancing in the dojo!"

I think it depends on many factors. I study in a dojo where some people dance and some people don't. To me it is really an individual concept, not one to apply to a dojo as a whole.

However, done correctly, Aikido can be a very beautiful, soft, flowing dance.

My goal is to have my aikido become just that. Doesn't mean I am less effectively martially, infact it mean I probably am more so!