Greeting from Pennsylvania
 

Hi everyone,
I am a 4th degree black belt in tae-kwon-do and have a great deal of experience kickboxing. I had several amature bouts when I was younger. I started in Aikido around 8 months ago and despite all my martial arts experience it is like starting from scratch. Aikido is far more difficult to learn than tae-kwon-do or boxing and is much more beautiful. I am enjoying the challenge and I am finally starting to learn to :"relax" enough for my techniques to be at least somewhat effective. It is obvious to me that one cannot learn to be profecient in Aikido in a year or two. It obviously takes many years but I look forward to the Journey...Gregg J. Block

Re: Greeting from Pennsylvania
 

Hi Gregg,

Welcome to aikido and to AikiWeb.

-- Jun

Re: Greeting from Pennsylvania
 

Hi Gregg,

It may take you longer to reach the same 'rank' in aikido than in tae-kwon-do, However I'm sure you'll find the journey worth it.

regards

Mark

Re: Greeting from Pennsylvania
 

Hello from down the road in Ambler, PA. Glad you're having fun. With whom do you train in the bethlehem area? I know Wirth Sensei and Jackson Sensei a bit.

Best wishes,
Steve,
AKI PA

Re: Greeting from Pennsylvania
 

Hello from a fellow Pennsylvanian. :) I also have a background in Tae Kwon Do, and yes, Aikido *is* very different from a striking art. I've been studying Aikido for 7.5 months, and I totally love it. Still have much to learn, but at least I don't get totally lost in class as much as I used to. ;)

Re: Greeting from Pennsylvania
 

Greetings! Hope to see you on the mat sometime.

Best,
Ron (North Wales, Pa)

Re: Greeting from Pennsylvania
 

I work out at Lehigh University with Ming sensei. thank you for your kind words.

Re: Greeting from Pennsylvania
 

I work out at Lehigh University with Ming Sensei.

Re: Greeting from Pennsylvania
 

AH... Sorry, I forgot to mention Ming Sensei. I trained with his group a couple times also. They were a very welcoming and fun group for me to train with.

I hope we'll meet sometime. All the best!

Steve
AKI PA