Bond Street Dojo :: About Our Dojo :: Description of Classes


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When to start: We teach Aikido not as a scheduled curriculum, but as a continuing flow of practice. We welcome beginners to join our regular classes. You start when you feel ready, and simply do the techniques with an open and attentive spirit. It is our experience that the new student reaches a higher level or advances in a shorter period of time by simply jumping in and getting his or her feet wet. The more advanced students are sincerely interested in helping you and will work with you at your own pace and level. Please do not feel you are hampering their progress because you are a beginner. It is important to their progress that they share their knowledge. Relax, and approach your training with an open mind and sense of enjoyment.

Classes are open to all members regardless of experience or rank, except where otherwise noted. The distinction between the beginner, basic, and regular classes is one of focus rather than skill level.

Beginner Classes: These classes help familiarize students with the most basic building blocks of Aikido. An extended warmup period emphasizes irimi (entering) and tenkan (turning and opening) movements, lowering the center of gravity and basic ukemi (falling or, literally, receiving) skills. The techniques that follow show how these movements come into play when working with a partner. Although these classes provide a good introduction to Aikido for new students, they are beneficial to Aikidoists of all levels.

Basics Classes: Basics classes emphasize techniques that students are first tested on in the lower ranks. Generally, techniques will be organized along one theme (various ways of using one movement, for example, or various ways of responding to one attack), and enough time will be given to each technique so that beginners can start to become familiar with it, while more advanced practioners can work to improve execution.

General Classes: These are, for the most part, taught by our chief instructors. The techniques taught can be more advanced and beginning students may feel at times confused and out of place. But that's the same way people who have been practicing for years often feel. Welcome to Aikido.

Weapons Classes: These classes present bokken and jo (wooden sword and staff) practice, with the purpose of exploring the principles of Aikido.

Advanced Classes: By instructor's permission.

Free Practice: Available to all members interested in working on any aspect of their Aikido practice, subject to presence of and supervision by a senior dojo member.
During the several weeks preceding kyu testing the free practice is intended to provide kyu rank candidates with extra time to work with their sponsors. Even if you are not testing, free practice is an excellent opportunity to work on your ukemi.

Last updated: 22 Feb 2010