It's a level of martial arts training that's almost impossible to find these days - the chance to learn from someone who's devoted his life to the practice, as it was in the ""old days.""\r
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Aikido is best known as ""the martial art where you use the attacker's force against him/her."" It's a modern embodiment of the Japanese martial arts which encompass judo, the samurai fighting arts, and zen. Japanese weapons training (sword and ""jyo,"" which is a kind of staff/spear) is also offered to students when the teacher feels they're ready.\r
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My ""fitness history"": For almost a decade I used to go to the gym, lift weights. I trained in Tae Kwon Do with an amazing teacher in Astoria for three years and competed at a few tournaments. I moved to Harlem and realized I'd gone as far as I wanted to with TKD. By 2005 I had lost all motivation to exert myself aimlessly in hamster machines in order to elevate my heart rate...I was looking for a martial arts practice, but one where my mind and body would be engaged for a purpose beyond sheer competition (and also not have to get injured all the time). And I just found Brooklyn Aikikai by ""chance"" walking around Park Slope/Gowanus. I quit my gym and after a year and a half I'm in great shape and am very happy to train there as much as I can.\r
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If you've ever thought there's value to martial arts that are infused with a spiritual discipline, you owe it to yourself to have first-hand experience of it at some point in your life.\r
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It'll also definitely keep you in shape and help you develop ways to handle other people's physical aggression. It's rigorous training, - you don't just engage with air but with people - but it's not some sadistic, macho slugfest. The two most senior students there are women.\r
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It's not expensive either -- $115 a month for unlimited classes, and discounts for three months and a year.
Pros: excellent teacher, authentic training, good community, awesome mind/body benefits
Cons: you might learn something about yourself
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