weapons in Aikido

[3hitKO]

im very close to deciding to take Aikido, in fact I may be travelling to the dojo to talk to the instructor soon...

one question I have is about the weapons utilized in Aikido, like in general what weapons are used and how far do you take them?

I know it will vary depending on where you go, but im just asking in a general sense

[jedimc]

The weapons used are the Bokken (wooden sword), Jo (wooden staff), Tanto (wooden knife).

It really depends on what style you do I think (not sure) that Iwama style does alot of weapons where Aiki-Kai does a little to medium training, it also depends which instructer you have. I have been doing it for a few months and I have done the bokken alot more then any of the other weapons.

I reccomend you watch a few classes before you join.

[3hitKO]

I dont know when, but I will be headin to the dojo soon to check it out, ya know class times/costs ect.

watching is a good idea...I wonder how old are most of the people that take it

I only wonder because way back when I took TKD there were like 8 year olds and 50 year olds so ya know I have no idea

[jedimc]

I think there will be more older people training because Aikido is a bit hard to teach the little ones but dont get me wrong you can teach them.

Do you want to do Aikido for the techniques or the weapons or a bit of both?

[3hitKO]

both...im interested in learning weapons, of course, but the actual techniques of Aikido is what attracted me in the first place

would it be described kind of like judo, but without chokes?

I dont know...

[jedimc]

Judo is a sport, you cant compare them there throws are differnt, u might see some the same because of there jujitsu background. But they are very different.

Aikido is about timing and distance where else judo you go in and grab the opponet and do your stuff, u might get stabbed this way.