Hello, everyone! Newbie here...

Hello, everyone. I'm an uber-newb to Aikido and just wanted to say hello to all. I'm American, but currently living in Doha, Qatar where I've just started training about 3 weeks ago.

We're a small crew - only 3 of us plus sensei...so small that we rent our dojo time from a local karate sensei!

I've tried various forms of karate before (tae kwon do, isshinryu, shotokan), but there is just something about aikido that "resonates" with me. So far I'm loving it!

Hi Mark,
Hope your training goes well and that you keep up in aikido.

Jamie

Those smaller classes you describe can be good and bad, good in respect you get excellent one on one tuition with your instructor bad in the way of not a varied list of partners to train with.

glad your having fun.

Anything 'new' easily resonates with many of us. It helps to be aware that the newness will fade. As with any true thing, making a basic commitment to investigate, participate, practice, for at least one year will help. Good luck.

In gassho,

Mark

Mark Uttech wrote: Anything 'new' easily resonates with many of us. It helps to be aware that the newness will fade. As with any true thing, making a basic commitment to investigate, participate, practice, for at least one year will help. Good luck.

Hi Newb,
Welcome to the family.
I have been practicing almost 8 months and still have the "new" person excitement. I hope it never fades!!!!

Hi Mark,

Welcome to AikiWeb.

-- Jun

Mark Powell wrote: We're a small crew - only 3 of us plus sensei...so small that we rent our dojo time from a local karate sensei!

Dude - that is so cool.

We only had 4 people show up at our last training day because it rained. (Well 5 including Sensei.)

It was two of us who will be testing for 5th kyu and two higher belts (2nd and 1st kyu)

The training was the most intense I had - last years seminar not far behind. I did my first mock test yesterday as well as took ukemi for 1st kyu.

Anyway, small can be good.

Large size can be good in the sense that you can train with different people to see how different people respond. (its easy to get used to one person) - and this way you can better refine your technique.

Anyway, enjoy...

Peace

dAlen

Time to bump the old thread!

I started aikido here in Qatar on 18-Apr-2008. On 30-Mar-2009, I finally earned 5th kyu. I have to admit that it's taken a bit longer than I'd planned (or hoped), but finally there nonetheless. It feels good.

Our group here has struggled to get established, but for the last couple of months we've finally started feeling like a real aikido club. We've had probably 10+ people join for a few weeks, then fade away, with only 2 of us plus sensei establishing the core. We've also struggled to find a suitable, consistent dojo, and with seemingly ever-changing training times.

It's been a struggle, but we now have a set location (men's gym at a local university) & schedule (3 nights / week). In addition to the core group (myself, one 2nd kyu, and sensei - 3rd dan), we now have 4 relatively new guys that have hung around for a couple of months now, and 3 more that come & go.

Unfortunately for the club, I will soon be moving back to Houston, as my project here in Qatar is coming to completion. So, if anyone can recommend a good dojo in the Spring-Klein area, I'm open to recommendations!!

mark