People can come to aikido for many reasons. Some want to improve their physical health and fitness, some their flexibility. Others want to find more of a spiritual and physical balance, others still are seeking a more martial practice that includes weapons and other training. 

At Milton Keynes Aikikai, students of all ages and backgrounds are welcome. 

There is no wrong time to start training. All one needs is an open spirit and a desire to work hard. As a new practitioner, your first few months of training will be exciting, challenging, and sometimes daunting.

A senior student, or the head instructor, will work with you personally during your first few classes until you have accomplished some of the basic skills necessary for your safety. Only half of aikido is about the technique – the other half is protecting yourself and falling safely. Learning how to fall and roll is an essential first step of learning aikido. You may find, after your first class, that you've used muscle sets you had no idea you had. You will feel it, and this is normal, and will ease with time and practice. Aikido takes time. You cannot expect to become a master overnight.

The more you train, the faster you will gain fitness, awareness, and confidence. New students should plan on that, in order to progress. Beginners are welcome at any aikido class. If aikido seems difficult at first, one of the draws of the practice is that it is always challenging: even aikidoka who have practiced for many years find something to learn and improve in every practice.

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One important thing to remember when you are training on the mat is that the techniques are not the be all and end all. How you train, your mindset and the commitment you bring to it, is very important. We train with a partner in order to learn how to feel and respond to each other's energy. Respect for your teachers, your partners, and yourself, is very important in aikido, to foster the cooperative spirit that we seek to bring to every practice. 

Bring a courageous and bold spirit to the dojo. The nature of this training is difficult, and one must persist. Keep Going! 

Welcome.