Adult Aikido Class

Renseikan Dojo offers Yoshinkan Aikido classes for adults five times a week. Evening classes Monday and Wednesday and day classes (held September - June) held Tuesday and Thursday morning. We also hold a Saturday morning class. Students wear a white dogi (uniform) similar to the ones used in judo. Aikido dogi are thicker then the dogi used in Karate because Aikido involves grabs and breakfalls on the tatami (padded floor).

In a typical Aikido class, students do a short but thorough warm up followed by ukemi practice (breakfalls). After this complete warm up, students practice kihon dosa, or basic solo exercises, to develop strong, coordinated movements. These solo movements are then put into practice with partners. Students work together in either pairs or in small groups, and take turns practicing basic and advanced aikido techniques.

Weapon training is also included in Aikido. Intermediate and advanced students learn the correct use of the bokken (long wooden sword), jo (wooden staff) and tanto (short wooden knife).

Aikido rankings are based on a coloured belt ranking system. The requirements for each kyu (rank) level are outlined in the Renseikan Student Manual, and are also posted at the Dojo. As with all classes at Renseikan Dojo, our emphasis is on individual student development rather than the achievement of the next rank.