People come to Aikido for many reasons. Some want to improve their physical fitness, coordination and flexibility; others want to find a spiritual and physical balance; still others are seeking a martial practice that includes weapons and other training.

At Brooklyn Aikikai, students of all ages and backgrounds are welcome.

There is no wrong time to begin Aikido. One just needs an open spirit and a desire to work hard. Your skill level in another sport or activity will not necessarily help you with this unique martial practice. Although your fitness will improve, often dramatically, Aikido is not about strength. Nor is it competitive. Students of all ages and experience train together on the mat and learn from each other. The point of Aikido is not to gain rank or a black belt - but simply to practice.

As a new practitioner, your first three months of training will be exciting, challenging and sometimes daunting.

"If your feet go numb, if your contact lens pops out on the mat, if your wrists are bruised and you can’t walk after the first couple classes, don’t be alarmed."
- Abby

"Of my first day, I remember the ease and fluidity of Sensei’s movements as he demonstrated a technique, then I recall my effortless ability to spontaneously fall over. Yep, fall right over."
- Betsy

A ranking student, or the head instructor, will work with you personally during your first few classes until you have accomplished some of the basic skills necessary for your safety. Only half of aikido is applying a technique – the other half is protecting yourself and falling safely. Learning how to fall and roll is the essential first step of Aikido. You may find, after your first class, that you’ve used muscle sets you had no idea you had. You will feel it, this is normal.

When I first saw an Aikido class, the main thing I couldn’t understand was: How did one go from standing to… falling, flying, rolling, whatever those people were doing…and back up to standing. It seemed like magic that I would not be able to master."
- Reiko

Aikido was an eye-opening experience for me. At first I thought I was relaxed and doing the technique correctly, but each day that I come I realize how much further there is to go."
- Dan

Aikido takes time. You cannot expect to become a master overnight. At Brooklyn Aikikai, we invite you to watch a class before signing up. Once you decide to begin training, you should expect it to take three months to be comfortable with the basics. The more you train, the faster you will gain fitness, awareness, and confidence. New students should plan to take two classes a week at minimum in order to progress. We have a few classes a week that are devoted to basic movements but beginners are welcome at ANY class. If Aikido seems difficult at first, one of the attractions of Aikido is that it is always challenging: even aikidoka who have practiced for thirty years find something to learn and improve in every practice.

One important thing to remember when you are training on the mat is that the movements aren’t the only lesson to learn. How you train, the commitment and joy you bring to it, is very important. We train with a partner in order to learn how to feel and respond to each other’s energy. Respect, for your teachers, your partners and yourself, is very important in Aikido.

Your practice of Aikido and your joy and discipline that follow will benefit the people you train with and enrich your own life.

Welcome.

(You can read more student comments at www.insiderpages.com.)