Aikido is a lower impact, takedown-grappling martial art style focused on throws against standing attacks. We primarily practice the Seidokan Aikido style but interact with other styles and their instructors to find new experiences and pick things that work well.
If you don’t know anything else about Aikido, it’s that “one with men in skirts flinging each other around.”
(It’s not skirts, and the women wear them too.)
(Also, we play with weapons sometimes too!)
Here are some pictures to get the idea from the last time we were taking pictures. You could help us get more pictures by joining us, but until then:
Aikido focuses on moving with aggression, not against it, and using our presence and core/balancing strength instead of our raw strength to take balance and control from a bad situation. Aikido is one of those “use their opponent’s strength against them” kind of arts even if we argue the technicalities of that phrase to death.
You’ll find stories of Aikido and Aikijitsu places on the Internet with some peculiar beliefs, so we feel compelled to state:
- We don’t act like we can knock people over using energy balls fired out of our hands (yes, this is a thing some people think).
- We don’t think we’re the best and final martial art.
- Our sensei might not be able to beat up your sensei. He probably doesn’t want to unless he’s in traffic.
Where and When
We practice at the Gus Garcia Recreation Center (map link).
Thursdays 6:45-8:15
Currently there are no children’s classes. People under 14 can be accepted with special dispensation.
Rates
| Category | Fee |
| Regular Adults 14+ | $35 |
| School/College Students (UT Aikido Club) | $25 |
| Experienced Visiting Guest Mat Courtesy Fee | $10 |
| First Class | FREE |
| Viewing, any time | FREE |
Basic Rules & Policies
We are mostly bound to the rules of the Gus Garcia Recreation Center which in turn is bound by policies of the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department. For example, we don’t mandate masking unless city guidelines have required it, but you can still mask if you want to and we’ll adjust activity.
Our basic dress code is “don’t be naked.” We recommend wearing something suitable for movement. Try to remove jewelry (including watches). If you have something that is hard to remove, we recommend covering it with a band-aid. We have yet to hear a horror story of an earring snagging on something, but with the rolling around that happens, you might press your head/body down on whatever jewelry you’re wearing and that’ll hurt.
There will be some paperwork to complete before joining the class. Prepare to arrive a few minutes early for this (and to change if you must).
We don’t require a uniform. We strongly encourage students to get a uniform after they have passed their third exam, which takes about 1.5 years of regular practice. We encourage students to buy a hakama (the lower body skirt/baggypants) in the one-year window before their black belt exam (around four years in with dedicated practice). You can get these in advance. We don’t issue colored belts outside of the black belt. While this is technically the traditional Japanese way, but we’re really just cheap.
Experienced Aikido practitioners should look at a dedicated page for some details you may find useful.
Who
Adam Preble’s first martial art was taekwondo when he got his adult black belt at 16. He then found Aikido through the UT Aikido Club and stuck with them when he graduated from college and moved to Austin in 2005. He’s been practicing Aikido continually since, reaching the rank of sandan (3rd degree). After that, there are no more degree tests but the saying “as the stone sharpens the blade, the student sharpens the master.”
So to continue practicing, Adam has been compelled to start his own place and is this dojo’s founder and chief instructor. There are more experienced practitioners, but while “sensei” translates in English to “teacher,” we also treat it as “the one who does the paperwork and buys insurance.”
Contact
adam.preble@gmail.com