Aikido for fitness?

[Swarles Barkley]

I'm thinking about taking up aikido, as a way to improve my physical and mental well-being. I find going to the gym to do cardio or lift weights to be utterly boring and have never been able to stick with it. So I started researching some of the different martial arts and aikido really struck a chord with me. I like its philosophical underpinnings, and the techniques seem like they are just the sort of thing that could benefit a klutz like me. (Might even help me get my head on straight!) So if there's anyone out there who's willing to share, I'd love to hear about your experiences with this most "peaceful" of martial arts.

Thanks

 

[hamudm]

I trained in Martial Arts for 10 years, 3 of those I was an instructor. Although it is a good workout, an active lifestyle outside of the dojo is necessary for good overall health as well. I would recommend training Aikido 2-3 times a week and hitting the gym for additional cardio and strength training 2-3 times per week.

Aikido itself is a fantastic martial art that embodies good discipline both physically and mentally. You've made a great decision to take this up!

 

[Swarles Barkley]

Thanks hamudm. I fully intend to supplement aikido with additional workouts. It's the idea of just the standard "gym" stuff that bores me out of my mind.

 

[Swarles Barkley]

And with that insignificant little post, I became a Commodore! I hope there's a raise involved.

 

[RoJoHen]

I learned how to do an aikido roll in a Stage Combat class once.

It's not really good for exercise, but it can be kind of fun to have aikido roll races!

 

[Quo Vadimus]

I just went and watched one of my friend's classes. It was really fun to watch but I don't see myself taking it. I have bad knees.

It was graceful and very disciplined. If I didn't have bad knees, I would seriously be tempted to take it up myself.

And the roll contests are hilarious.

 

[Swarles Barkley]

I just went and watched one of my friend's classes. It was really fun to watch but I don't see myself taking it. I have bad knees.

It was graceful and very disciplined. If I didn't have bad knees, I would seriously be tempted to take it up myself.

And the roll contests are hilarious.

Damn...I have bad knees too. What about it looked particularly stressful on the knees?

 

[iguana_tonante]

I'm thinking about taking up aikido, as a way to improve my physical and mental well-being. I find going to the gym to do cardio or lift weights to be utterly boring and have never been able to stick with it. So I started researching some of the different martial arts and aikido really struck a chord with me. I like its philosophical underpinnings, and the techniques seem like they are just the sort of thing that could benefit a klutz like me. (Might even help me get my head on straight!) So if there's anyone out there who's willing to share, I'd love to hear about your experiences with this most "peaceful" of martial arts.

Thanks

I practiced traditional style jujutsu for 8 years, and I still do. While certainly different from aikido, there are some similarities, and I often cross-trained with aiki-jujutsu, a sort of "precursor" of aikido.


It helped me a lot to find concentration and balance. It improved my posture immensely. It taught me how to move, walk, and breath correctly. It also improved my general motor skills and coordination. And, while I hope never to test my capabilities out of the dojo, it is always useful to know a little sef-defence.


While the trainig in se was not focused on building muscle mass or burning fats, it compelled me to improve my general body fitness, since I needed my body healty and in shape for practicing correctiy.


So, kudos to you for choosing such a fine martial art: it will do great to improve your body wellness, just not as fast as intensive cardio or weightlifting.

 

[Swarles Barkley]

It helped me a lot to find concentration and balance. It improved my posture immensely. It taught me how to move, walk, and breath correctly. It also improved my general motor skills and coordination. And, while I hope never to test my capabilities out of the dojo, it is always useful to know a little sef-defence.

Thanks Iguana. What you've described are exactly the kinds of things I'm hoping to get out of it.

 

[Quo Vadimus]

I just went and watched one of my friend's classes. It was really fun to watch but I don't see myself taking it. I have bad knees.

It was graceful and very disciplined. If I didn't have bad knees, I would seriously be tempted to take it up myself.

And the roll contests are hilarious.

Damn...I have bad knees too. What about it looked particularly stressful on the knees?

You have to learn how to fall and some of the falls looked pretty bad. There is some kicking but I suppose if you stretch well, it shouldn't pose too big a problem.

 

[Unicron]

Yeah, we did some of that in karate. You have to be very careful when learning how to roll, and I found it more difficult to learn backwards rolls. What you don't want to do is to roll over your neck.