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Old 03-04-2011, 08:25 AM   #1
lbb
Location: Massachusetts
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Frequently asked questions

We're working on some new informational materials for prospective dojo members, and I'm putting together a list of frequently asked questions. We haven't decided yet exactly how this will be used -- perhaps as a page on the website, perhaps as a takeaway that we can give to people who come to inquire about training (for themselves or for their children), perhaps as information to new students -- so I can see several different but overlapping sets of questions being appropriate, depending on the usage. I have some ideas of my own, but I thought I'd throw it out here. What are the frequently asked questions of prospective or new students -- the questions that they actually ask -- and what are the questions that they don't ask, but that you wish they would?
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Old 03-04-2011, 09:13 AM   #2
Larry Cuvin
 
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Dojo: Oregon Ki Society
Location: Tigard, Oregon
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Re: Frequently asked questions

The first question on my mind when I stared was: I'm 44, am I too old for this? Then the second one was: How will this affect my back problem?
Just questions from an old decrepit folk.

Plus Ki
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Old 03-04-2011, 09:36 AM   #3
itaborai83
Join Date: May 2010
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Brazil
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Re: Frequently asked questions

Quote:
Larry Cuvin wrote: View Post
The first question on my mind when I stared was: I'm 44, am I too old for this?
It would be nice to see a small photograph of Danny Glover in Lethal Weapon next to this question.

regards,
Daniel
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Old 03-04-2011, 09:39 AM   #4
kewms
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,318
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Re: Frequently asked questions

Questions prospective students often ask:
How often should I practice? Can I still make progress if I can only come X times per week?

What do the different color hakamas mean? (Yes, this is an FAQ at any dojo where hakamas are worn.)

How long to get to black belt?

Questions I wish beginners would ask, but they usually don't:
How should I attack? What should I be doing with X attack?

I don't understand how to respond to this technique. What should I do?

I can't move my partner. What am I doing wrong?

Katherine
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Old 03-04-2011, 09:39 AM   #5
JO
Dojo: Aikikai de l'Université Laval
Location: Sainte-Catherine-de-la-J.-C., Québec
Join Date: Jun 2000
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Canada
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Re: Frequently asked questions

Here is a link to the FAQ of my first dojo.

http://www.aikidodelamontagne.com/en/faq.html

I've always thought it was to the point and honest. Of course you have to adapt your FAQ to the methods, goals and clientele of your dojo.

Start by thinking about what the first questions friends ask you, or visitors dropping in on the dojo off the street ask you.

Jonathan Olson
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Old 03-04-2011, 01:12 PM   #6
Gorgeous George
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Re: Frequently asked questions

Quote:
Daniel Itaboraí wrote: View Post
It would be nice to see a small photograph of Danny Glover in Lethal Weapon next to this question.

regards,
Daniel
Yes.
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Old 03-04-2011, 01:16 PM   #7
ninjaqutie
 
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Re: Frequently asked questions

A lot of people want to know what "all the bowing is about" when they start our dojo.

~Look into the eyes of your opponent & steal his spirit.
~To be a good martial artist is to be good thief; if you want my knowledge, you must take it from me.
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Old 03-04-2011, 01:36 PM   #8
Tony Wagstaffe
Location: Winchester
Join Date: Oct 2005
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Re: Frequently asked questions

Where's the toilet....
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Old 03-04-2011, 01:54 PM   #9
Larry Cuvin
 
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Dojo: Oregon Ki Society
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Re: Frequently asked questions

Ha Ha. I'll do one better...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q37xJtuQ24w

Plus Ki
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Old 03-04-2011, 02:02 PM   #10
Dave de Vos
 
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Dojo: Shoryukai, Breda (aikikai) & Aiki-Budocentrum Breda (yoseikan)
Location: Baarle-Nassau
Join Date: Nov 2010
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Re: Frequently asked questions

- How fit/athletic should I be to start aikido?

- How hard/soft is aikido?

- Are there competitions?

- Belt colors?

- Beginners classes / training?

- Injury risk for beginners?

- Weapons work for beginners?

- Etiquette?

- When to buy gi, weapons (how much does it cost)?

Last edited by Dave de Vos : 03-04-2011 at 02:04 PM.
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Old 03-04-2011, 07:27 PM   #11
John O'Rorey
Dojo: Koshinkan Aikido Dojo
Location: York, PA
Join Date: Feb 2011
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Re: Frequently asked questions

http://www.aikidofaq.com/
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Old 03-05-2011, 12:06 AM   #12
dps
 
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Re: Frequently asked questions

How soon will I or my kids be able to use Aikido to defend ourselves?

dps

Go ahead, tread on me.
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Old 03-05-2011, 05:50 AM   #13
Shadowfax
 
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Dojo: Allegheny Aikido, Pitsburgh PA
Location: Pittsburgh PA
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Re: Frequently asked questions

I don't recall all of the questions I asked before I went to the dojo.

But some of them were.

1) what is the lineage of the dojo (Who taught the teachers)?

2) What curriculum is followed?

3) what are the fees for testing and organization affiliation?
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Old 03-05-2011, 05:06 PM   #14
lbb
Location: Massachusetts
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Re: Frequently asked questions

These are great answers, everybody -- thanks for your efforts! Now I have an additional question: should these be refined into "Questions someone asks (or that we wish they would ask) when they're still thinking about starting training", "Questions someone asks (or that we wish they would ask) right before/during/after their first class", and "Question someone asks (or that we wish they would ask) in their first few weeks/months of training"? I'm sort of feeling like there's a breakdown between someone who's thinking about doing something, and someone who's made that first step onto the mat -- it seems to me that the experience of the first class raises questions that they wouldn't think to ask beforehand, and even if they did, the answers wouldn't make any sense. What do you think?
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Old 03-05-2011, 05:10 PM   #15
Mary Eastland
 
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Dojo: Berkshire Hills Aikido
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Re: Frequently asked questions

I think just FAQ is good..I always check that part of a site out.
Mary
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Old 03-06-2011, 12:13 PM   #16
Basia Halliop
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Canada
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Re: Frequently asked questions

Quote:
These are great answers, everybody -- thanks for your efforts! Now I have an additional question: should these be refined into "Questions someone asks (or that we wish they would ask) when they're still thinking about starting training", "Questions someone asks (or that we wish they would ask) right before/during/after their first class", and "Question someone asks (or that we wish they would ask) in their first few weeks/months of training"? I'm sort of feeling like there's a breakdown between someone who's thinking about doing something, and someone who's made that first step onto the mat -- it seems to me that the experience of the first class raises questions that they wouldn't think to ask beforehand, and even if they did, the answers wouldn't make any sense. What do you think?
Sure but FAQs are always like that. You pay attention to the ones that you're curious about and where the answers make sense to you, and you will vaguely remember some of the other questions enough to perhaps think of the FAQ page again when you're curious about something else later on.

So I wouldn't worry too much about it. You could always list the ones that people tend to ask first earlier in the list or something.
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