Training

Aikido of San Antonio offers classes in traditional Aikido 7 days/week. Click here for the adult schedule. Students learn Aikido at their own pace, so anyone can train regardless of age or gender.

Training at Aikido of San Antonio involves four aspects:

• Body Arts - the study and training in traditional Aikido technique
• Weapons - the study and training in the traditional weapons of Aikido bokken (wooden sword) and jo (short staff)
• Zazen - seated meditation
• Iaido - the study of drawing the sword, cutting and re-sheathing the sword

Body Arts - Training in a particular class involves:

• breathing - helps prepare the mind and body to concentrate, remove concerns of daily life and develop "centeredness."
• stretching - helps warm the body up to prepare for physical training .
• conditioning - consists of specialized breathing and body exercises for the purpose of strengthening the "center".
• falling - learn how to fall correctly while protecting your body.  This is critical to maintaining safety of your practice partners.
• footwork - learn how to stand and move your body according to aiki principles.
• techniques - learn how to correctly move your body and execute movements consistent with the principles of Aikido.
• cool down - allow the body to cool down to a relaxed resting rate.

Throughout the daily training, students are instructed in principles and philosophy of Aikido and practice those principles through the various aspects of training. As you progress, the training will become more rigorous and more demanding for each individual both physically and mentally. It is critical that the training in Aikido push you beyond your limits. Without going past your "comfort zone" ascending to a higher level of Aikido is impossible. Of course, each student is different and so are their limitations. Therefore, the instructor may push one person harder than another depending on their current abilities and limitations.

Weapons Training

The traditional weapons of Aikido are the bokken (wooden sword) and jo (short staff).  We train in these weapons to learn more advanced concepts of Aikido which include maintaining proper distance, timing, control, and concentration.  Weapons training can be intense and requires considerable practice and perseverance, but the rewards are a deeper understanding of the principles of Aikido movement and technique.  You may watch the weapons class as a beginner but you must wait to practice until the chief instructor invites you to participate in the weapons classes.

Zazen

Currently, Zazen is practiced at various times during a particular class period. AOSA provides instructions for seated meditation (Zazen).

The purpose of Zazen, is not religious, but to teach the martial artist how to calm the mind and to develop their own awareness of mind and body.

This is especially an important pedagogical tool to develop a deeper understanding of Aikido and budo.

Iaido

Currently, we practice Iaido in an effort to understand the roots of Aikido. Because Aikido is based on the use of the sword Iaido serves as a method of study to develop the underlying roots of Aikido. Iaido classes are available to only current members and are not offered separately.

How to Join

After you watch one class, you may join the next day we have class. The exception is on Fridays when we have weapons class. You may still come to observe a weapons class, but you must watch a regular class before joining. When you join, you will need to sign some paperwork and pay initial sign-up costs. For more information click here. The first day of training can be a bit intimidating because of all the new things you must learn. But over time things get easier as you become more familiar with your fellow members, the etiquette and the structure and feel of the classes.

Our Beginner's Program

Our beginner's program is designed to help you smoothly adjust to the etiquette, activities in the dojo, and the classes. As a beginner you will be assigned a mentor who will help you for that day. The first day of class you will be taught various aspects of etiquette and protocol. During the first few days of training a mentor will teach you basics of falling, footwork and technique. Falling correctly and safely is an extremely important aspect of Aikido training because we put your safety first above everything else. Once you learn the basics of falling and footwork, a mentor will work with you throughout the class. The mentor will help you learn the techniques that are taught in class and will offer support and guidance as you learn to fall from being thrown. After a few classes at this stage, you will be able to practice with any member in the group.

Monthly Dues

At AOSA, we do not have contracts. Instead you pay monthly dues. Click here to learn about our dues schedule. As a member in good standing, you can train 7 days per week. Our classes are on-going but are not lock-step. This means that you are not required to attend a certain set or number of days per week.  Even though you are encouraged to practice daily, this is difficult for most students. Over time, however, all students learn the essential aspects of Aikido through constant practice.

Interested? Ready to join? What are you waiting for? Click here to learn about joining.