In this section we aim to answer those questions we get asked regularly.
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What does it mean for a club to be Hombu affliated?
The Kyu Shin Kan is affliated with Hombu Dojo in Japan through the United Kingdom Aikikai. For a club to be recognised by Hombu Dojo means that the Chief instructor's grade is certified by Hombu Dojo and so will the grades attained by any of his students. This ensures the standard and quality of the instructors training methods, being in line with Hombu Dojo's teachings.
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If I get graded here will my grades be valid anywhere round the world?
Yes, if you do go to any Aikikai dojo, your grades will be acknowledged and therefore there is no need to re-sit any gradings. However, should you choose to train at a non-affliated dojo, it is totally up to the instructors discretion whether or not you can keep the grade previously attained.
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How much are the training fees?
Currently the training fees vary depending on the dojo. These are £3.00 for Wednesday, £5 for Friday (2 hour classes) and £1.20 on Sunday for the hour and a half lesson. This is due to the rental charges of the dojo and not the Instructor taking a personal wage.
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Can me and my friends come and watch?
Most definitely! We encourage new people to come and watch the class before they decide to join in the training. Even if you are unsure to start with, everyone is most welcomed to come and watch as many lessons as they like before signing up.
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If I've never done any martial arts before will I still be able to cope with the training?
Because of the nature of Aikido, you will find that most people in the dojo are willing to help beginners come to terms with the etiqutte, language and techniques. Also, a qualified coach will be assigned to guide you through the first couple of lessons until you are more familiar with the class.
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What equipment do I need and where can I purchase them?
If you're coming to train for the first time and you don't have any other martial arts uniform, you can wear something comfortable i.e trackbottoms and a t-shirt. When you do decide to purchase an Aikido Gi and weapons for training, this can be ordered through our online shop.
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Where are the dojo's situated? Is there any parking available?
You will find the location of all the dojos in the "dojo" section of our website. In that page you will find a link to a map which shows you the location of each dojo. All of our dojos have on street parking available.