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CHOOSING THE RIGHT aikido school for you is essential for both your practice and your personal development. There are many considerations to keep in mind. Here are some guidelines to help you on your search.

Finding Available Schools

To find the aikido school closest to you, check your local Yellow Pages. Many sites on the Internet offer school-search functions. These listings may be somewhat limited, however, so check martial arts supply stores in your area for business cards and flyers of local teachers and their schools. Check the local parks and recreation departments, the YMCAs, local health clubs, and community or state colleges, for possible classes or aikido clubs.

Your Goals and the School's

The first step is to realize who you, as a new student, are. An important aspect to consider is the ethics of your motivation for studying aikido, and the ethics of the school's motivation for teaching it. Why do you want to learn aikido? Are there specific aspects of the art that you are more interested in, and that you'd like your training to focus on? If your primary motivation is self-defense, for example, then your criteria for judging a school depend on that. Many aikido schools do not emphasize the self-defense aspects of training, but rather the development and transformation of the person. The focus of each aikido school may vary according to the style and the instructor. Some schools will focus on the development of ki over technical proficiency. Others will focus on more practical self-defense or weapons training. Just as you need to determine the focus of aikido that interests you, you'll also need to determine the focus of potential schools.

The right school is the one that best matches your reasons, motivation, and ethics. Therefore, it is important for new students to be clear about why they want to train in aikido and what they want to get out of that training. By asking these questions of yourself up front, you'll be better able to recognize the school that best suits your needs.

School Location

According to an old joke, success in business depends on three things: location, location, and location. Convenient location is an important consideration. If it is not easy to get to the school, you may not be able to get to class on a regular basis, which will hinder your training.

Class Schedule

Convenient class schedule is another important consideration. While some aikido schools offer classes at various times, others can be very limited in class meeting times and frequency. Many schools only offer classes during the evening, or only in the morning and on weekends. Try to find a school that provides classes that match your schedule.

Financial Responsibility

Training in aikido also comes with a financial commitment and responsibility. It is important to know up front what financial agreement and contract you will face as a new student. Many schools have a monthly rate with unlimited class attendance. Others have a monthly rate that only allows a certain amount of class time. Local service organizations and colleges charge fees on a course or semester basis. Some schools offer a special rate if you pay in advance for a "black belt" program—but many people drop out of training before reaching the black belt level. Ask yourself how much training is worth to you. How much can you afford? There are enrollment fees, dues, testing fees, clothing and equipment costs, and gas or other transportation expenses.

The Teacher

A major consideration for successful training is the competence of the instructor. Competence is more than just high rank and recognized affiliation. Competence means whether or not the instructor can teach. Can the head instructor actually convey the basics of aikido in a manner that makes them understandable and learnable? Does the head instructor actually teach the classes? It is common practice for a martial arts school to be established on the basis of the head instructor's rank and reputation, but the head instructor may actually teach very little. The beginning student can learn a great deal from assistant instructors, because they are advanced in their training, but the advanced student will want to train more directly with the head instructor. This is considered a great honor.

Class Size

Class size can be an important factor in finding the right school. Some students require instruction that is more personal, and prefer a smaller class size, while others like the social aspects of being involved in a larger group activity. The right class size will be the one that provides the best learning environment for you. No matter how large or small the class, however, there should be a sense of control and discipline at all times.

Atmosphere

The general atmosphere of the school and its classes should also be a consideration. Atmosphere takes into account how the students interact with each other. Aikido should be practiced cooperatively, not competitively. As a beginning student, you will be caught up in the atmosphere of the school. As you eventually become a senior student, it will be your responsibility, obligation, and privilege to help establish and maintain a positive atmosphere that is conducive to teaching and learning aikido.

Clutter and Cleanliness

The clutter or cleanliness of an aikido school indicates the teacher's desire to make a comfortable training place for students. Cleanliness has many health benefits, too. A school that is too cluttered, or not clean, indicates a cluttered and unkempt mind. The beginning student will feel more welcome in a clean, uncluttered school. The advanced student will take active responsibility for, and participate in, its cleanliness and upkeep.

Safety

Another important consideration is safety. Accidents and injuries do happen, but these are exceptions to the rule. There should always be a first aid kit available, and the instructors should have training in emergency first aid. Most injuries in aikido training can be avoided by taking training seriously, following instructions, using common sense, and relaxing.

Reliability

How long have the school and teacher been in the area? Perhaps more importantly, how long do they intend to stay in the area? Many schools open, attract new students, and then fail for one or more reasons. This leaves the new students with nowhere to train, after possibly paying many dues and fees up front.

Ethical Responsibility

First, last, and always, the ethical responsibility of the school and teacher is extremely important. Ethics are a set of guidelines established by a specific profession to govern the activities of people doing business within that field of expertise. This is separate from the legalities of a business practice. Very few martial arts instructors have taken business courses that teach them to run their business in ethical, yet profitable, ways. Many have been trained in the instructor/student relationship of traditional martial arts, which implies a lifelong commitment and responsibility to each other. In the Western world, where martial arts are more of a hobby taken up for health and entertainment reasons, the students only feel responsible for paying their fees and showing up for class. Likewise, instructors may feel that they are simply responsible for collecting fees and sharing some of their knowledge. Aikido teachers must be willing to accept that their ethical responsibility to the student extends far beyond the class or the school.

Once you find a school that is convenient in location and is affordable, you will need to assess if the techniques taught appear effective and learnable. Are the students having a good time while they train? In addition, how does the school treat its new students? As a new student, are you welcomed into the aikido community?

Before making any decision, it is important to visit several schools and watch their classes. It cannot be emphasized enough that you should gather as much information as possible about the school and the instructor. Whatever choice you make, don't stay with a school if you later find that the choice was not the right one for you. In traditional martial arts training, the choice of the right school and teacher is very important. This right choice can make the difference between frustration, humiliation, and quitting or finding a lifelong hobby, or way of life. The study of aikido has applications far beyond the school walls.