Some frequently asked questions, that we thought would be particularly useful to newcomers and beginners.
Why do you offer a free taster lesson?
Aikido can be very different from other martial arts, so we try to give newcomers a better idea of the techniques along with the style of our training and teaching. Some decide that it is not for them or that they prefer a different style. This is perfectly understood and so there are no strings attached to taking a taster session.
What can I expect during a lesson?
Lessons always take the same form, we bow in and then exercise to warm up and stretch our muscles. We practice breakfalls followed by a set of five basic exercises aimed at improving posture and breakfalls as a continuation of the warm up.
The Sensei taking the lesson will then demonstrate a number of techniques which the class practice in pairs or as a group. Generally everyone practices with everyone else, learning to accommodate differences in the size and ability of your partner. Sometimes the lesson is split by ability in order to concentrate on specific aspects or advanced techniques.
We finish with exercises to help reduce strains and injuries.
Do I need to buy a suit straight away?
If you already have a judo style suit from another club that is probably fine. A t-shirt and tracksuit trousers are adequate for beginners and we only encourage members to buy a suit once they are happy that they wish to continue with the club.
Do you accept junior members?
We only accept students over the age of 18 due to our insurance and because we have not proceeded with the necessary regulatory clearances.
In general, most Aikido clubs are small (in comparison to Karate or Judo), so historically demand has been low. Also most clubs meet in the evenings which means timings don’t generally work for younger students. Without a permanent dojo and almost full time instructors it is very hard to offer multiple sessions on more than one day a week.
There are clubs that do teach juniors and we encourage anyone looking for a club to make sure potential clubs have appropriate qualifications and welfare policies in place the BAB has some useful resources on safeguarding and you can check whether clubs in your area teach under 18’s.
Do I need insurance?
All Students need to have insurance from the British Aikido Board (BAB), which offers Professional Indemnity, Civil Liability and Personal Accident Cover for all members of the Club. The Instructors cover this at a trial lesson, explain the cover and how to apply.
The application process through the Aikido Research Federation is very simple, the cost is very reasonable and allows members to train at any BAB club.
Can I buy a suit from the club?
We run the Society on a non-profit basis, we only look to cover our costs and don’t sell clothing or equipment. The instructors are happy to suggest various retailers, share their experiences and make recommendations about what to buy.
Do I need to be fit to practice Aikido?
Maintaining a good level of fitness is always a positive and will help in training and keeping up a good rate of practice on the mat. But Aikido is about using technique over strength, so stamina and endurance tend to be more important that physical strength. We generally encourage newcomers to do what they can, but there are no fitness tests.
What is your style of Aikido called?
Good question and the short answer is we are working on this! Take a look through Our History and you will see that our club has been influenced by different styles. It is rooted in Yoshinkan and Tomiki Aikido, with a focus on effective self-defense that has much in common with the Keijutsukai Aikido.
What is the grading system?
Students start off as a white belt and their first grading usually comes about after 6 months of regular training. Then students progress through the grades as follows:
Yellow belt (5th Kyu), Orange belt (4th Kyu), Green belt (3rd Kyu), Blue belt (2nd Kyu), Brown belt (1st Kyu), Black belt (1st Dan)
Gradings tend to be further apart as students climb the ranks and each one is more challenging than the last, in the variety of techniques that are required.
Will you recognise a grade from another club?
We do recognise and respect grades earned at other Aikido clubs, and usually invite experienced students to wear their coloured belt on the mat.
Why do you have so many Black Belts?
Many people will practice Aikido from their early twenties into retirement age. This means that students can practice with their club for decades. Naturally they progress through the ranks which means that clubs can seem top heavy with Dan grades. While this can seem intimidating to the beginner, they have the advantage of having a Black Belt as both a teacher and partner. This is not unique to our club and our experience is that it is the same with many others.
Do you practice with weapons?
We train with a variety of weapons including knives, Bokken (sword) and Jo (staff). We use rubber or wooden weapons for safety and the emphasis is on learning to defend against attacks with weapons. We do practice weapons Kata (set forms) either solo or weapons-against-weapons.
Why don’t your instructors wear Hakimas?
This purely a tradition of our club. Some of our instructors own a Hakima but we choose not to wear them during training and it makes no difference to the style of Aikido. We would encourage beginners to make a decision on the techniques and style of teaching rather than dress code!
Why is the club called “Epsom and Ewell” yet you train in Motspur Park, New Malden?
For many years the club was based at Epsom and Ewell Rugby Club. In recent years we have been forced to move as it is difficult to find venues where we can store the mats. However, the club name is well known and was established in the 1950’s so have been reluctant to change it.