What students of the Koteikan Aikido Dojo have to say about their aikido training
I enjoy training at the Koteikan Aikido Dojo (training hall) because it is used solely for Aikido.
Training at the Koteikan helps me to focus my attention on learning Aikido and gives me a welcome change from my daily tasks and thoughts.
The Koteikan has a good atmosphere for Aikido. - Raymond Brown
------------------------oOo------------------------- Godan: And what has Aikido given us in return?
Shodan: Co-ordination.
Godan: Oh yeah, yeah it gave us that. Yeah. That's true.
Yonkyu: And balance!
Ikkyu: Oh yes... balance, you remember what we used to be like.
Godan: All right, I'll grant you that co-ordination and balance are two things that Aikido has done...
Shodan: And good posture...
Godan: (sharply) Well yes obviously good posture... good posture goes without saying. But apart from co-ordination, balance and good posture...
Yonkyu: Stamina...
Other Kyu grades: Strength... Reflexes... Health...
Godan: Yes... all right, fair enough...
Nikyu: And the friends...
All: Oh yes! True!
Shodan: Yeah. That's something we'd really miss if we left.
Rokyu: Self-confidence!
Ikkyu: And it's good to have a training routine.
Shodan: Yes, it certainly teaches how to maintain self-discipline...
(general nodding)... let's face it, it's the only thing that could with a bunch like us.
(more general murmurs of agreement)
Godan: All right... all right... but apart from better co-ordination and balance and reflexes and stamina and self-confidence and good posture and a training routine and confidence and self-discipline... what has Aikido done for us?
Shodan: Brought inner harmony!
Godan: (very angry, he's not having a good meeting at all) What!? Oh...
(scornfully) Inner harmony, yes... shut up! - Margaret Turner
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Probably one of the most significant benefits of practising Aikido for me has been the confidence it has given me in my own physical abilities:
strength, flexibility, co-ordination, balance, reflexes, etc.
As someone who is neither tall nor strong, I think the non-confrontational and non-competitive environment has given me an opportunity I otherwise wouldn't have taken or continued with. The co-operative nature of the practice has meant that my own physical limits relative to others, haven't actually prevented me from developing and improving. Of course, one of Aikido's principal characteristics is that once a certain level of skill is reached it doesn't matter how big or strong the other person is. I'm still working on that one, but it's getting closer and in the meantime I'm prepared to use the advantages my relative size sometimes gives.
Learning your own physical (and mental) capabilities probably comes as a plus with any regular physical exercise, but Aikido's emphasis on co-operation has for me removed a lot of the barriers to developing them and the self-confidence it has brought has carried over into everyday life with good results.
- Margaret Turner
------------------------oOo------------------------- Looking back, how I wish that I could have trained in Aikido at the Koteikan from the start.
Unfortunately living in different places didn’t allow this and some of the Aikido styles that I tried didn’t seem right for me.
As a woman I can’t rely on strength like men and the Koteikan training emphasis on good connection and movement helps women to make their aikido work well and have flowing graceful movements.
I know that I have still got to put in the time to train to get the benefits but it is time well spent and I enjoy it.
- Martina Marie-Luise Paulinus
PS I’m sure Aikido at the Koteikan is great for men as well. ------------------------oOo-------------------------
Aikido has helped improve many aspects of my life – general fitness, discipline and improved self-confidence being chief amongst these. I find Aikido an excellent whole-body exercise system that encompasses strength, stamina, flexibility and importantly relaxation.
I have practiced Aikido for several years now and find Koteikan a welcoming, enjoyable place to practice this martial art, with the tuition from the instructors being interesting and culturing a great learning environment.
- Ray McAlpine
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