I've been training in Aikido for just over a year now. I love it. My only regret is that I can't go more than 2-3 times a week.

It's been called the "thinker's" martial art by some, and I think that's true. It is not immediately practical as you describe Kali Sikaran, but since I really have no intention of getting into any physical confrontations, that is irrelevant to me - though I will say over the course of a year it has given me at least half a clue regarding self defense. Even just learning how to fall, get out of the way, and increased awareness is huge for just about any "real life" situation. It is all about redirecting energy and physics in a strange sort of way, which is what makes it appeal to academics and the like. But for those who train a long time, it definitely "works".. there is a Shodan I train with (about 7 years training) a 50 year old woman who can't weight more than 110 pounds, and gruff ukes with something to prove do not get past her.

I enjoy it for a lot of reasons. We have a physically large, beautifully kept dojo. If you've ever seen Donovan Waite's ukemi tapes, they were filmed at our Dojo. Here's a picture of our dojo, incidentally my friend Luan, the 110 pound woman I previously mentioned, is the nage there.



So I love going there, usually 6:30 am, getting away from my usual ruckus of my home life and starting my day. I love the problem solving, the contemplation, and the physical rush of active practice, especially as I've just now started to get to where I can do continuous practice without freezing. I love how, even though I still struggle to lose those baby pounds, I've gotten more fit.. I can roll, run, tumble, and even do the occasional breakfall and be not much more exhausted than those who are seemingly more fit. As someone who started this at age 30 only 8 weeks after having a c-section with almost no previous athletic experience, I feel what I have accomplished so far is something to be proud of. It has really changed the way I think about movement. I love the way it has taught me to deal with confrontations in a physical way that can translate into an emotional/verbal way.

I would personally recommend Aikido to just about anyone. Those who come from "harder" martial arts might not like it, but in my opinion, are those who could benefit most from it. If you are interested in learning about large, sweeping motion, learning about an approach that focuses on compassion for both uke and yourself, and an art that uses both open hand and weapons training, Aikido might be worth looking into.