AIKI KAI (AUSTRALIA)

National Aikido Association of Australia

Established in 1965 under direct authorisation of the Aikido founder - Ueshiba Morihei

45 years of Aikido
Instruction in Australia
1965 - 2010

Frequently Asked Questions

Want to start training in Aikido. What do I do?
Read the rest of this FAQ. Read the 'Aikido Information' page. Look at the dojos and contact pages on the front page. If your question still isn't answered, you can contact us via the site webmaster mail@aikido.org.au.

Do you run beginners courses?
Some of our branches run beginners courses which start throughout the year. Our University classes in particular are likely to run a beginners course in first and second semester. Other branches may choose to have beginners join in with the regular class.

What's involved in training in Aikido?
A normal class is about one and a half hours long and can include:

• Stretching and calisthenics
• Basic rolling
• Traditional Aikido techniques
• Weapon training
• Bokken (wooden sword)
• Jo (wooden staff)
• Tanto (wooden knife)
• Meditation
• Misogi Breathing

Do women train in Aikido?
We have many women training, both senior black belt and junior grades. We have women instructors. Some branches have more women training than others. Women are encouraged to train in Aikido if they wish to. We do not discriminate on the basis of gender.

What clothes do I need to wear? Do I need to buy a uniform to start?
We understand that a gi is expensive for someone who isn't sure they will want to continue. Acceptable clothing for a beginner is loose, comfortable sports type wear. It should have full leg and arm covering. No short or leotards please. This is mainly for safety - the clothing protects you against mat burns, bumps and scrapes. Remove jewellery, watches, earrings, rings, hard hair clips and so on before class. Any cuts or wounds should be covered by adhesive tape. Hands and feet should be clean and washed if necessary.

You'll find that Aikido is very hard on normal clothes, which is why we wear a martial arts gi which is built to last. The best type (in my opinion) is a judo-style ribbed gi, not the canvas karate-style gi. Either white or unbleached is fine.

Always buy a gi far too large! They shrink a huge amount! When I buy a new gi I put it on over my normal clothes in the shop. The sleeves should cover your hands right to the fingers. The pants should drag on the ground. Ask the shopkeeper if you are uncertain. Wash it once before your first class - you'll be astounded how much it shrinks. If you buy a new gi that is a comfortable fit in the shop it will shrink so much you won't fit into it - don't do that.

When do I get to wear the black skirt (hakama)?
The black skirt or hakama is always worn when you reach black belt level. Many clubs ask or allow women to wear hakama at earlier levels. Ask your instructor.

What are the fees?
The training fees depend on the branch. Aiki Kai Aikido is a non-profit organisation. Our instructors are not paid to teach. Fees cover expenses such as hall hire and travel. Many clubs have a monthly fee that lets you attend as many classes as you wish that month - this is great value if you are a serious student.

We also have a yearly fee that covers insurance, administrative costs and costs of running Summer and Winter schools and a travelling school run by the technical committee to all our regions in Australia.

How long does it take to get a black belt?
A similar question would be 'How long does it take to learn to play the piano?' Having said that, a student who trains seriously might be nominated to attend the black belt grading after five years or so.

Is there a minimum age to start?
Aikido training is very vigorous and can be hard on the joints. Some branches run special childrens courses where special care is taken and all the students are children. If you are younger than about 15 you should speak to the instructor to seek his/her opinion before starting in an adults class.

Is there a maximum age to start?
Speak to your instructor if you think you may be too old to start training. Obviously you need to have the physical capability to exercise vigorously.