Scenes from our Adult Aikido Class

Adult Aikido class takes place on Wednesdays from 8:15 to 9:15pm and again on Thursdays from 8:15 to 9:15pm.

Aikido, unlike Karate, focuses upon leveraging your opponent's energy to your favor. It incorporates a lot of joint locks, wrist holds, smooth, blending circular motions and the like. It's truly a rewarding Martial Art.

Class always begins with some major stretching and warming up. Below, the instructor Master Cleary is running the class through the static lower legs stretches.

By exerting a small force in the proper angle, a tremendous advantage can be won between opponents. Below, Master Cleary is demonstrating on Sensei Terry how to bend the wrist properly to begin the technique. Notice the hand is bent perpendicular to the arm - this will compel Sensei Terry to move in the direction desired.

It's really quite incredible how proper force, angle and technique can result in, ahem, dramatic discomfort. Below, Master Cleary is showing how thoroughly immobilized Sensei Dominick is. Notice Sensei Dominick's left hand is raised - that's because he "tapped out" of the hold. Pain is never the end goal in Aikido; when the opponent feels the right pressure, he or she taps out.

After demonstrations are done, the class will generally pair up and try out the techniques on one another. Hands and wrists aren't the only body parts used...in Aikido, the entire body can be used as a weapon. Below, Master Cleary is showing how one should pivot on the knee to arrive at the right position for the technique.

One of the challenges in Aikido (all Martial Arts, actually) is to "not think" and instead let your motions flow in the proper sequence. Let's say someone has stepped in to round-house punch you; sure, you could simply deflect the blow...or deflect the blow and follow up with an elbow to the throat. Below, Sensei Dominick is demonstrating this on Sensei Ryan. Notice how smooth the motion is.

Wrists are wonderful things, especially when you take down bigger opponents than you by creatively bending them. Below, two students are starting one particular technique in which the wrist was grabbed...

And then bent in a way the wrist didn't like....

Leaving the student to embrace the floor. However, the technique wasn't done quite properly, which is why Master Cleary came over to explain what could have been done differently.

Generally, class has us learning or revisiting 2 or 3 new techniques each day. When a new technique is introduced, Master Cleary takes great care with explaining it slowly and clearly and exaggerating the movements so everyone can see. Below, notice where his hands are; he's showing the exact position one should grab.

The next step, of course, is to complete the technique. Master Cleary below has used his opponent's weight and balance against him to take him down.

A key point! Once you've thrown down an opponent, you don't let go until that opponent is immobilized/put out of operation!

As you can see, instruction is a big part in Adult Aikido. We have several superb senseis who take this class and will help teach other students. Below, Sensei Dominick is showing a student how to block someone who comes with a round-house punch.

After the demonstration, the student tries himself...and is successful.

Let's now consider another aspect of Aikido - that of one person against many. Our Aikido Demo team performs that very thing for community days! Below, two people are against one student. The first shows the gentleman in the blue belt getting ready to deal with the gentleman rushing him.

Can you say "fall down go BOOM"?

Did I mention our students end up on the floor quite a lot? One gains quite the appreciation for learning how to fall correctly, a skill that's extremely beneficial in real life (preventing injury when unexpectedly falling on the sidewalk/ice/etc.)

And like I previously said, our Aikido class has several skilled students who put on a superb demonstration. Below, take a look at our previous Hazlet Day demonstration, where a student is about to give the opponent second thoughts.

Adult Aikido is a great class! Definitely check it out.

Want to learn more? You do so at our Schedule page.

Please continue to enjoy your visit!

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