What kind of clothing should I wear?

Eventually you'll need to buy a practise suit (called a keiko-gi) but in the early days exercise clothing such as tracksuit bottoms and a T-shirt will be fine.  You'll also need a pair of slip-on sandals to walk from the changing room to the mat.  A keiko-gi consists of white cotton trousers, a strong white cotton jacket and a white belt.  Women wear a white cotton t-shirt under the jacket. You can purchase a gi from us; please contact us for more details.

When will I become a Black Belt?

We should really answer this question first as it is the question we are asked more than any other!  It is very difficult to give a definitive answer as every student differs in their personal abilities, the amount of time they can practice and the intensity with which they practice.  Aikido emphasises correctness of technique which means that it can take many years of devoted study to achieve a high standard.


Will I get hurt?

With any kind of hard physical exercise there is always a possibility that an injury can be sustained.  However, unlike some other disciplines, most of the injuries you'll risk with Aikido are minor bruises and strains.  Injury occurs in any form of hard physical exercise.  Obviously, we try to reduce the chances of injury to a minimum by teaching students how to practice safely, and emphasising the importance of receiving the technique correctly. Several members of our dojo are qualified in First Aid.
 

How fit do I need to be?

Before you begin any regime of physical exercise you should seek the advice of your Doctor. You do not need to be especially fit to begin your studies but everyone practises at their own pace, and this will improve as your overall fitness increases.
 

How useful is aikido as a practical means of self defence?

Most techniques practised in a typical class are designed to condition the body, although they do have a martial aspect. Aikido as a means of self-defence is most effective at higher levels of training.