Aikido is a modern Japanese martial art created by Morihei Ueshiba, who is referred to by some aikido practitioners as O’Sensei, or Great Teacher. Aikido is not just martial arts, but an expression of the philosophy of universal peace and reconciliation. This is now practiced in 140 countries worldwide.
Because Aikido’s primary goal is discipline and overcoming oneself instead of cultivating violence and aggressiveness, a lot of people, young and old alike, like it compared to other martial arts. It is often mistaken as a sport, but it is not, because it mainly teaches self-defence and defence of others, and not really about fighting.
A lot of parents enrol their children to aikido, and even women prefer this over other martial arts. If you’re interested in getting some aikido lessons, here are some of the things you should do in your first aikido class.
- Be early – Part of the discipline in Aikido class is being mindful of time. If you come to class early, you will have time to meet the teacher, sign some documents, and familiarise yourself with your surroundings and get comfortable before the class starts.
- Good hygiene and no jewellery – Jewellery is strictly discouraged during aikido class, in fact, if you are wearing any, your teacher might ask you to remove it. Long nails and jewellery may be harmful to you and your fellow students while you are on your training. Also, do come to class with a clean body and clean breath. Your clothes should also be clean and free from odour when you come for training. Aside from this being part of aikido’s philosophy of taking care of one’s well-being, it is also a sign of respect to your teacher and fellow students.
- Wearing comfortable, loose-fitting clothes – In order to move freely, come to class in comfortable clothes and preferably long pants. Avoid using clothes with distractions like ribbons, as this might cause harm when it accidentally falls loose, or tight-fitting clothes that may restrict your movements and prevent you from performing your training exercises properly.
- Respect when entering or exiting the dojo – Dojo means “place of the way” in Japanese. This is the formal gathering place for martial arts and is considered a special place that should be treated with respect. When entering and leaving a dojo, do a standing bow facing the Shomen or the front. Shoes or slippers must also be removed before entering the dojo.
- Stretching exercises and basic techniques – In the beginning, you will always be taught to stretch. This eases the tensions in your muscles and prepares them for aikido techniques. It is also a good exercise for your body. Later on, basic techniques will be taught. Your teacher will not teach you everything at once during your first day. Learning aikido, just like in everything else, is a gradual process.
Now that you have an idea what to expect, you may prepare yourself physically, emotionally, and mentally for your first aikido class. You can’t expect to be an aikido master in a few sessions, but you will definitely feel and see your progress as time goes on. One thing for sure, if you liked your first class, you will definitely love Aikido.
