Choosing a Martial Arts Academy or School
Many people turnup to a Brisbane martial arts academy, school club or centre wanting to learn a martial art after finding about it some how, without neccessarily knowing what to look for. And they comes for a range of different reasons.
Some are looking for self defence, health and fitness, some want to learn a traditional martial art, others are
interested in the internal energy development or just want to kick butt after seeing the latest action movie at the cinema.
Ultimately these aspects and many others form part of martial arts like Aikido and it is up to the prospective student to decide
if the particular art and the academy or school suits them or not. Read on about what we offer the new martial arts aspirant and some tips to help you if you visit another martial arts acedemy of school in brisbane or elsewhere
At our aikido club we offer a free introductary class, this is a one-on-one class with a senior student and provides
an overview of many aspects of aikido. In this class you will learn and do some of traditional Japanese sword
practice originating from the battlefield, strangely from these kinds of movements come the harmonious flow
and movements of aikido which you will also practice, also the development of a centred, relaxed mind and
something of the nature of 'ki'. You will be able to discuss your needs and any concerns you have and find out more about
the various aspects of aikido of intrest to you to find out if it is for you or not.
Click to find out more about Griffith Aikido and start aikido training today .
Begineers, try an introductary class with our compliments.
Choosing a martial art
The human body is adaptive but can only move in so many ways, the evolution of the martial systems are
designed to get to the top of this mountain, though there are many paths there. Aikido practice
encompasses many aspects for training the mind, body and spirit. As a club we have been in Brisbane
for over 25 years, many of our students and instructors have practiced and are practicing other martial
arts and we would be pleased to point you to those arts if they might be more suitable.
If you have particular intrests in certain aspects you may find these other arts more suitable. For
example for grappling arts you might like Judo and Juijutsu, the striking arts Karate, Tae Kwon Do,Silat and
Kung Fu, if weapons are your intrest arts like Iaido - the art of drawing the sword and Jodo -
use of the staff. Finally internal arts like Bagua Zang and Taichi also share much in common with Aikido.
Find out about other martial arts
Selecting a place to learn
While we hope you will come and practice Aikido with us, it maybe that you end up somewhere else and/or doing another art. If so here are some questions to ask yourself and those in the school you are interested in trying out to help you in your search.
- The Teacher
Does the teacher treat their students with respect. Do you like the teaching style? Is the instructor well credentialled? or a little too well credentialled?? The best martial artist is not always the best teacher. Also remember your instructor is only human once they step off the mat - try not to confuse the person with the art, the art they teach and their personality off the mat.
- The Students
An instructors teaching is reflected in their students, both in skills and behaviour. Can you picture yourself as a student here? Can you see a clear progression between the junior and senior students. Does the dojo have a mix of students abilities. A dojo of all beginners or all balck belts can tell you a lot about the school
- Lineage
Is the club drawing from a flowing stream of knowledge or a stagnant pool? Does the club have a direct connection to a master teacher from whom they can learn or belong to an organisation from which new knowledge can be brought to the club? Its very easy to find a dojo but hard to find a dojo where everybody in the dojo is still learning
- Feeling is believing
Its often a difficult thing to evaluate an art just by watching - unless you are quite skilled in that art. If possible try out a class, much of many arts are hidden in finer details that only are developed after years of training. For example in Aikido the small space between an opponents grip and the aikido students wrist can make all the difference in the effectiveness. Only by feeling the art can you really discover what it has to offer.
- The Vibe
How do you feel talking to the instructor, other students, when you walked into the club for the first time. Did they listen to what you were saying. Trust your feelings and instincts. Are you/they having fun?
- Commit to training
Martial arts teach secret techniques that no-one else has and will make you special and invincible. Sadly this is just not true, only commitment to regular training over a long period of time yields results. Once you have decided to try out a particular school, think about the impact on your lifestyle of training a few times a week for at least a few months, only after a period of time such as this will you begin to see the benefits of your training and be able to evaluate an art to see if its for you.
- Safety
Is there an appropriate emphasis on safety? The dojo is not a place for violence and aggression but controlled practice. Sure injuries happen occassionally but appropriate measures should be in place. Do they have an insurance policy, first aid cetificates and kits, Blue Cards for working with children. Martial arts is a hobby for many people and sometimes these things aren't always up to scratch.
- Money, money, money
Ok so training is going to cost you money. (Probably more than you are going to lose if your are ever asked to hand over your wallet). Dojos, clubs and academies need to have money to operate. However if your asked to sign up a huge 12 month contract, are not offered an introductary package or free class and if you have to pay big fees to do your belt gradings Beware...
Some arts tend to employ proffesional instructors where as others don't. Both ways have their merit, many would say a proffessional instructor's bottom line is getting food on the table and this can compromise the 'purity' of the art being taught, however a volunteer instructor can only devote so much time to their art as they usually have another job to do.
- Ki, Chi and Internal Energy
Some teachers can perform seemingly miraculous acts of 'ki/chi' power, in these demonstrations the 'pinky' finger is more powerful than their biggest students, arms are 'unbendable', bodies are unliftable even with two people trying to lift. These 'tricks' demonstrate the relaxed power of arts like aikido and are based on good training practice and well understood by biomechanists and easily learned. Sometimes though they are part of the sales package to get you in - try to look for the substance beyond them though. The study of internal energy and meditation is a legitimate part of many martial arts and goes deeper than these tricks
- Cults and Charsmatic groups
Most martial arts follow a traditional structure that is feudal and hierachal in nature. In these power structures Instructors and senior students can often have a lot of control within the group whilst training, and often beyond. There is potential for abuse of this responsability and power leading to some sad stories. In the excitement of starting martial arts it is very easy for intelligent ordinary people to get sucked in. Whilst uncommon, it is not unheard of dojos operating as a cult.
" ..In such groups leaders can make demands on followers that are seen as abusive by outsiders,... the group operates as a close knit social system and its activities are generally only carried with other members of the group. ...Boundary control is exercised by the group and compliance with group norms is assured by members....A clear difference between members and non-members is exercised"(Cults Faith, Healing and Coercion, M.Galanter,Oxford university Press 1989). It can be very difficult to leave such groups.
Danny, Griffith Aikido
DISCLAIMER: These are some thoughts of the author, opinions of others will vary
More Griffith Aikido Club articles
Aikido
A modern martial art developed from the traditional Samurai class of martial arts in Japan. Aikido has no blocks or punches but instead redirects the attackers energy to throw or immobilise them. Suitable for men, women and children. With a good mix of aerobic and weight bearing training its a good way to maintain inner and outer health and pick up some handy skills as well.
Griffith Aikido
A dynamic martial arts club that has been operating on Brisbanes Southside for over 25yrs offers regular beginners courses for newcomers, classes for kids and advanced training for the old hands. Men and women of all ages enjoy training in a co-operative atmosphere under the guidance of Japan recognised instructors and benefit from regular visits by senior instructors from Japan. Start Today
