three Aikido dojos

[enhf94.livejournal.com]

Howdy,
I've been trying to decide which of the three Aikido dojos in Som'l to join. Near Davis includes:

• New England Akikai, nearest Davis
• Aikido Tekkojuku Boston, in Taza chocolate's building
• Shobu Aikido of Boston, near Union

I've observed classes at the NEAkikai and Tekkojuku, but am newb enough that I couldn't tell much difference. Folks at each place approached me to be welcoming and to tell me how much they liked their dojo. Prices are only slightly different. I also got the impression that NEAkikai considers itself top-of-the-heap.

I'm a total beginner, have never considered a martial art before, and am not seeking chest-thumping machismo. I wouldn't mind knowing a little boot to the head, but my priorities here are 1. not getting bored, 2. feeling supported, and 3. getting some exercise.

Wise DSLJ, care to chime in with Aikido recommendation/experience? Lyonesse? Others?



(This has been referenced in other DSLJ posts, but my request is Aikido-specific and 2011-focused. Boxing's cool, but not my thing. No jiu-jitsu, please. I already read that Oom Yung Doe is off-limits.)

Comments

[lyonesse.livejournal.com]

i learned at mit kokikai (and i teach now but usually out in littleton! :)

other schools have not quite been so much my thing, though i had a very pleasant visit at tekkojuku (and i'm sure they thought i was an idiot, as the "standard variations" we work through in kokikai are a slightly different set and i couldn't even figure out the names....)

there is a kokikai dojo in boston (a daughter to mit kokikai) which i've been to relatively rarely and don't have much to go on. i apologize for being more provincial than provincial...

but that said i think you should see if you can try mit kokikai -- maybe check their webpage at http://web.mit.edu/kokikai/ and drop them a line asking? they're not in davis, but they are a ten-minute walk from the red line at central or kendall.

or find me a suitable space and i and my two fellow instructors in littleton will lead class around here ;)

[greyling.livejournal.com]

I'd heard tell of a small posse of rogue Kokikai instructors in Somerville. I'd love to come practice with you guys at some point, although getting out to Littleton is going to be a problem for my pedestrian habits...

[lyonesse.livejournal.com]

hee! when we go to the dojo out there we usually carpool :) but we're not rogue; we are actually three kokikai black belts and dave comi's blessing, which is what it takes to be a kokikai dojo around here. we're just a mite lame, since our space is so far away. we try to hold seminars once a month, usually wednesday evenings. all levels welcome anytime of course.

please feel free to message or email me (@lj works) and i will add you to our announcement (really more like "negotiation") lists.

[vonelftinhaus.livejournal.com]

You hold seminars once a month out in littleton or in the Davis area?

[lyonesse.livejournal.com]

in littleton. i don't have a good place to practice in davis. but i live in davis, so i have to go out to littleton, so i take people in the car....

[vonelftinhaus.livejournal.com]

cool, asking cause if the seminars were in Davis I would mosey in! I always had an interest in aikido and a few years back when I had researched the various martial arts I had felt personally aikido suited me mentally and physically. My desire was all for the physical part but for the mind and body aspect and also the interest in the art of it- also was not aware that was different forms within aikido itself.