Aikido class recommendations?

[gingicat]

My younger kiddo, a high school senior, is interested in studying aikido. Any recommendations? I may have more specific questions later.

Thanks!

Comments

[metahacker]

NE Aikikai, in Porter, was where I went back when. My wife used to occasionally help with the kids class (though that was aimed more at 8-10, not teens). But that was twenty years ago. Maybe try a class there?

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

I would suggest:

* Check for places that offer an introductory set of classes free or discounted, rather than requiring you to sign up for a long stretch that might not work out. Also check if they rent uniforms, at least at first. This way if it doesn't work, you're not out a ton of time and money; you can try a different Aikido school or even a different martial art.

* If you find 2+ Aikido options with the above, pick the one with more mental training. This art relies heavily on meditation, mental focus, calm, and energy direction; the moves are mostly geometry and anatomy rather than strongly athletic attacks. It is not about breaking your opponent's arms and legs or beating them into submission; it's about keeping your cool and ending a fight with nobody getting hurt. At high levels, however, Aikido is extremely powerful. You need the mental, philosophical, and energy input to do well with it, let alone get into the really impressive stuff -- and to handle that much power responsibly. Do read the history of its founder, that is some fascinating superpower stuff.

Also bear in mind that while martial arts are generally useful for things such as exercise and flexibility, their primary use for self-defense is hopefully quite rarely needed. It is therefore advantageous to choose an art with other strong benefits -- whether that is exercise, fun, or something else. Aikido is among the richest in mental and philosophical aspects, and it is always useful if you can stay calm and focused in a crisis. Some Aikido schools even offer additional education on negotiation, mediation, conflict resolution, etc. which are also useful skills.

* Do talk to your kiddo about why they want to study a martial art in general and Aikido in particular. It is the best for some things but rather bad at others, which is true of most arts -- they all have different strengths and weaknesses. Pick one that will teach what you want to learn.

There are quizzes that make for excellent discussions on this topic, and which may help select a suitable place to learn.

https://www.gotoquiz.com/which_martial_art_is_right_for_you

https://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/story.php?title=what-martial-art-should-i-take

https://www.idokarate.com/blog/which-martial-arts-are-you

https://www.quiz-maker.com/cp-np-what-martial-art-should

[metahacker]

(PS: happy to answer questions about aikido itself, too...)

Re: Thoughts

[gingicat]

Reply from teen:
"almost all the quizzes asked for knowledge that I don't have and one of them for some reason asked my gender (and only provided male or female)"

[gingicat]

Thank you :)