If you're curious about Aikido, the best thing to do is to visit the dojo at during one of our regularly scheduled classes. Our members and instructors are friendly people who are good with questions. Visitors are always welcome.
6630-I East WT Harris Blvd.
(in the Hickory Grove Business Park)
Charlotte, NC 28215
Map
What is Aikido?
It is a modern martial art of Japanese origin practiced in the traditional fashion. As with all Budo, or martial ways, there is a special emphasis on character development. The promise of Aikido is that through the rigorous physical training and the mastery of often difficult and esoteric techniques an enhanced mastery of the self is possible. It is from this princple that the Agatsu Dojo derives it's name. In Japanese, Agatsu means self-victory and is taken from a very old proverb that says true victory is self-victory.
A more complete discription is available here.
What's the dojo like?
The dojo, or training hall is made up of two components. The physical space and the people. While we have a fully-equipped facility that is beautiful, inspiring and relaxing, the real value at Agatsu dojo are the people who train here. You will find martial artists of varying backgrounds and experience who love to train. It is a defining characteristic of Aikido that there is no competition and beginners train with long-time exponents of the art and both parties come away enriched from the experience.
What is training like?
It depends on you. Since Ai-ki (literally harmonious energy) techniques use an attacker's energy in creative and unexpected ways, training can be as physically intense as you'd care to make it. But Aikido is a life-long pursuit encompassing softer, more meditative practice like Tai-Chi with a partner.
What you can expect from Agatsu dojo is a group of sincere, helpful people who are dedicated to their practice. While instructors lead the way, in a good dojo everyone learns together.
Who can join?
Anyone aged 15 or older. You don't have to be young or in especially good shape -- Aikido is about working with what you've got.
Students with prior experience in other Aikido schools are always welcome.
Do you offer classes for children?
Not at the moment. However, if you're interested contact us - if there's enough interest we'll see what we can do.
What about safety?
The potential for injury is inherent in any physical activity, but we're not out to injure one another here. We're here to help each other become better martial artists and better people. Sometimes that requires raising the intensity of training, but safety is at the forefront of everyone’s mind in the dojo.
What about self defense?
Any two people, with a little training and motivation, can overcome any one person. Any armed person, even if only carrying a lunchbox, has an advantage over an unarmed person. Anyone who tells you different is selling something you probably shouldn't buy.
True self-defense is based on awareness and evasion. Any combative situation involves the element of chance, therefore the only conflict you can't lose is one that you don't engage in.
This being said, training in traditional Japanese martial arts has been shown to improve response under all manner of stressful situations. The element of good training may allow a student to keep their wits about them when all about them are losing theirs, but to think that any technique we practice will confer limitless advantage or can be mastered like some cheap trick is a mistake.
What if I have other questions?
Feel free to visit, call or email and we'll add your question to the faq. 704-921-2220. info@charlotteaikikai.org