Can I watch a training session?
Of course, you are welcome to observe a training session to get a first impression. However, we ask that you register and make arrangements in advance.
Please note that all spectators must remain quiet during practice, must not walk around, and must under no circumstances disturb the participants or the practice in any way.
In particular, cell phones must be turned off, and photography is not permitted without prior consent.!
However, we would also like to point out that it is difficult to understand aikido simply by watching. Experienced aikidokas may train at a faster pace, and as an outside observer, you might be able to recognize the attack and the conclusion, but you won’t be able to see the technique itself. This can give the viewer the impression that they would be completely incapable of performing such a complex movement.
Instead of just “watching,” we’d rather invite you to a trial class, because you can only truly understand Aikido by practicing it!
No one starts out with such complex movements right away; instead, as with everything else, you begin by taking baby steps and learning the “basics,” such as moving on the mat and how to fall or roll properly.
Are there any aikido (classes) for women?
The philosophy of Aikido makes it clear that there is no difference in training between women and men.
The techniques in Aikido are based instead on physics, destabilization, and the principle of “inner strength.” (Great) physical strength is actually more of a hindrance here; it leads more quickly to a blockage in the person exerting the force, and that force could ultimately injure him or her!
For these reasons, we believe that aikido is almost predestined for women. In our training sessions, there is no separation between men and women; both genders train together (in accordance with the yin-yang principle) and learn from one another!
At what age can you start practicing aikido?
In general, you can start practicing aikido at any age: there is no upper age limit. However, it is not advisable to begin training too early—before reaching a certain age or developing a certain physical constitution.
This is because the joint locks learned in training—on which most techniques in aikido are based—can have a negative impact on physical development if performed improperly.
The FNAL sets a minimum age of 10 for beginning aikido.
Aikido is an art that requires a high degree of focus if participants wish not only to engage in a simple recreational activity but also to achieve a certain level of success in their training. For this reason, anyone interested—whether a child or an adult—should attend a trial class and work with the instructor to assess their potential.
Is there a beginner’s class?
No, we don’t offer a special beginner’s course!
In general, you can start aikido training at any time, so there is no need to take a beginner’s class.
For organizational reasons, however, anyone interested or new to the sport should still register with us here in advance, and we will then arrange a trial session.
The more advanced students then make sure that the newcomer gets a first impression, and they also help with the “first steps” in Aikido.
Our experience has shown that after just a few regular training sessions, the newcomer has already integrated into the training group.t!
What can you expect during the trial session?
During a trial class, in addition to some theoretical explanations (such as what Aikido is, where it comes from, who “invented” it, and so on), you’ll also receive personalized and tailored instruction.
After the group “warm-up,” beginners are shown their first practical exercises.
First, they will learn how to roll and other basic forms.
However, we don’t just focus on these initial steps with newcomers; they are quickly integrated into active training and learn their first techniques. You can read about how a training session works here.
Are there competitions in aikido?
No, because the basis of competitions is a (sporting) confrontation with the “opponent.” That is what makes a competition what it is.
In aikido, we tend to refer to our partner rather than an opponent. This alone shows that the concept of competition is not valued in aikido.
The goal of an aikido technique should be to defuse the confrontation and persuade the attacker to desist from his aggression. Aikido therefore cannot truly fit into a competitive framework.
Aikido is a very personal path to self-discovery and self-development; every aikidoka brings their own personal qualities and potential to the mat.
How could a competition be judged in this context, and how could practitioners be compared with one another?
What other requirements do you need to meet to start practicing aikido?
Other than a desire to move and a joy in learning together, there are no other prerequisites for starting aikido training.
Generally speaking, anyone who has the strength to walk can practice aikido. Aikido relies very little on physical strength..
However, caution is advised in cases of musculoskeletal injuries (especially to the knees and spine). In such cases, it is best to consult a sports medicine physician beforehand for an evaluation. As a purely precautionary measure, the association reserves the right to request such a medical certificate.
Personal growth and development should be possible for every aikidoka in every training session—that is the goal!
Aikido is a long journey, and together we are all traveling the same path; however, where it leads us is a decision each of us makes entirely on our own.
To get started, all you need is a pair of comfortable long (jogging) pants and a long-sleeved T-shirt. You’ll only need shoes to walk to the locker room and to the mat; on the mats, we train barefoot (or in socks). You should wait until you’ve decided to continue training before purchasing the necessary equipment.
How often can associated members participate in training sessions ?
Every associated member may and should participate in all of our association activities.
Regular attendance at training sessions benefits all participants in terms of their own development and personal progress in aikido.
This also applies to the regular seminars organized by the FNAL.
In FNAL training sessions, no direct distinction is made between beginners and advanced participants.
Everyone trains with everyone else,
according to each individual’s level of progress.
The federation also encourages and supports all aikidokas to participate in ACSA seminars.
What if you can’t make it to practice for an extended period of time ?
The reasons why someone might be unable to attend a practice session can be quite varied. Everyone should decide for themselves how intensely and how often they participate in practice. Nevertheless, you can only learn aikido by practicing it, so it’s important to “stick with it”!
To ensure progress in the movements, our training sessions are designed so that the techniques and other exercises are repeatedly practiced and reviewed.
This way, no one misses anything, and everyone is given the opportunity to get back into the actual training after a break.
Nevertheless, it is also a matter of respect and etiquette toward federation and partners to notify them as soon as possible of any extended break or absence.
Do you have to take exams, and when do you become a “master” ?
Each exam the aikidoka passes provides feedback on their current progress.
Nevertheless, they should not be viewed as absolute, since everyone starts from their own personal circumstances, and therefore the paths themselves are not directly comparable.
Unlike other types of martial arts or Aikido organizations, colored belts are not worn in the FNAL.
Everyone starts with a white belt; only later, as an advanced practitioner (starting with 1st Dan), do you wear the hakama with it. You don’t wear a black belt until after passing the 1st Dan exam. There are no other visual distinctions for rank levels in FNAL.
Although a minimum number of training sessions is required between exams, this timeframe is again highly individual and depends heavily on the progress of each aikidoka.
Furthermore, passing belt exams is not the primary goal of aikido. The grading exams are intended to show the aikidoka his or her progress and encourage him or her to continue on this path.!
Once you’ve earned your black belt, you’ve mastered all the basic techniques.
It is only after earning a black belt—yudansha—that the true journey of learning aikido begins. You have reached the first “level” … and now you begin to learn and explore your own unique style of aikido.
From this point on, the aikidoka embarks on a very personal journey to discover “his” aikido and its underlying principles. Through creative application, the aikidoka will continue to dedicate himself to the practice and thus experience his own progression more consciously.
What is Aikido ?
In a short video, the German Aikido Federation DAB explains what aikido actually is.
Enjoy the show!
DAB holds all rights to the film.