Aikido for Beginners Course Description
What Beginners Learn
- Five basic throws
The first few throws
introduce the fundamental elements of Aikido. Students learn the techniques at their own
pace and have plenty of time to review each technique before starting a new one.
- Three falls
Students begin from a low position and practice on a futon,
a very soft foam surface. There's no hurry to move to higher positions or to fall
directly on the mat. As with all our training, learning is always self-paced. Sierra Aikido
teaches only safe, smooth, low-impact falls.
- Six simple Aikido footwork patterns, to:
- Move in any direction at any time.
- Maintain a strong, stable and flexible stance.
- Move to an optimal position, take a partner's balance and complete a throw.
- Exercises for gradually improving flexibility, balance, agility, coordination
and strength
- Introduction to key Aikido concepts, and begin to integrate mind and body:
- Good posture, balance and body alignment
- Correct eye line
- Body integration, keeping torso, head, feet, legs, arms and hands all moving
in the same direction
- "Relaxed, open" strength, using the leverage gained from body
alignment and positioning
- Big, clear, smooth movements, the basis of live, calm energy
- Maintaining an optimal distance between partners, aware of the time, space
and energy between you
- Actively sensing, and blending with, a partner's movements
- Focusing on a partner, following through, flowing into the next throw or fall
How Beginners Train
At first beginners train one-on-one with one of the chief instructors while the other
facilitates training for the rest of the group. Both instructors particularly enjoy
introducing Aikido to newcomers. Training is always at your own pace and level of
stamina. No need to "get in shape" first.
You are encouraged to ask questions and give frequent
feedback on your level of comfort with new techniques and falls, and on what you
are able to absorb in any given class. Everyone learns in different ways, so your
training will be self-directed, as well as self-paced. The instructors take care to
be sure that every student is training at his or her own level of skill and stamina.
If you have health issues or a physical limitation, we will adapt your training to
meet your health needs and objectives. In severe cases, we may have you ask for your
doctor's approval to train but almost anybody, regardless of age or physical skill
and ability, can learn to do Aikido well with consistent support.
How Beginners are Integrated into the Group
You will meet other members right away and find that they all welcome beginners
wholeheartedly and enjoy training with you. The group is friendly and
supportive, and the training atmosphere is informal. During the first few classes,
as the basics get more familiar, you will train more and more with other students
with different levels of experience.
The group is always made up of mixed ranks, including recent newcomers. Everyone
practices many of the same techniques and concepts together, each at their own
level. We believe that a wide-range of abilities training on the mat together promotes
a healthy Aikido dojo.
Even so, beginners often say that they are worried about "wasting"
senior students' or instructors' time. Actually,
training with partners of different levels is invaluable for learning to sense others'
movements. That sense is at the core of how Aikido works, and the
ability to work with beginners is an essential skill for all Aikido
practitioners to build over time. It clearly sharpens one's awareness, balance,
agility and understanding of how to make the techniques really effective. Moreover,
members are also glad to be
"giving back" the personal attention they received during their training.
This mutual support creates the sense of community that raises the level of Aikido
quality across the whole dojo.
