What To Expect From An Open Session

Tonight, we have an open session of Aikido.

Anyone is welcome to join whatever level of interest you have.

If you have never trained and are looking for a new activity to try then you are welcome.

If you are already an Aikido practitioner you are also welcome.

If you just want a one off taster but have no interest long term you are also very welcome.

Our club trains once per week and it is for adults. The age range is 16+. You can train at your own pace and level and it can be suitable for people at all stages of fitness.

For clothing, I would suggest a loose long sleeved top or hoodie and loose comfortable trousers.

we would ask you that remove all jewellery. If you are unable to remove jewellery such as a ring we would ask that you cover it with tape.

What should you expect from the class?

We start by with a “line out” in which we sit accrording to our grade and face the Ki sign. The Ki sign is a symbol of the principles we are looking to develop in our Aikido and this reminds us of why we are training.

We will then go into gentle stretching exercises to warm up. We cover the whole body.

After this we will do some break falls and ukemis (rolls). This is an important part of Aikido training and we should always aim to improve our ability to protect ourself by falling and rolling well.

I will give a brief introduction to the class and then we will do some Ki exercises. These exercises are designed to test us for mind and body co-ordination and help to develop our Ki.

We will then partner up for techniques. Aikido is almost all practised with a partner.

Towards the end of the class we will likely do some “breath throws” which we call Kokkyunages. We always aim to perform these at the level our partner is capable of, you are welcome to just walk away.

At the very end, if we have time, we will do some Ki breathing. This is a breathing method for developing Ki and helping to centre Ki in our one point.

We finish by lining out again and bowing and thanking all of our partners.

After the class, there will be a time to ask questions and I will share with you more details about the class.

I look forward to seeing you there.

We start at 7.30pm at the Palace Of Art, Glasgow. Aim to arrive a little early.