What rank in Aikido can one start BO-staff, sword training, or taijutsu?

Question

Im looking into doing martial arts again, and there's an aikido studio about 10 minutes from my house. I researched the art and saw that part of aikido training is BO-staff (aiki-jo), Sword (Aiki-ken), and Taijutsu. Does someone have to be a certain kyu (i believe thats the word for rank) in order to do any of those techniques?

Also, is taijutsu even involved in aikido??

Answer 1

It depends on the instructor/dojo/organization. Some dojos use suburi (solo cutting exercises) with either bokken or jo (no, you won't use a bo in aikido) as part of regular warm-ups, others have special weapon classes. Some instructors feel that weapon training, especially aiki-ken, should be introduced as early as possible, since most basic movement and techniques in aikido is derived from sword-techniques; while other may limit weapon training to those above, say, 2nd kyu.



Taijutsu literally means body-arts/techniques, and is nowadays usually used to refer to empty-handed techniques; so yes, taijutsu is a big part of aikido.

Answer 2

aikido is an art that mainly teaches "non resistance" avoiding the opponents attack and handling him from a safe angle. The joint locks or balance throws taught in aikido tend to pretty technical so don't be surprised that the first few weeks you are not even getting what you are doing. It usually takes some one a few weeks to really get the structure behind the aikido moves. I'd advise doing some daily stretches of the joints to help with flexibility. Further more relax and enhou yourself. you'll improve as you go along. As for weapons, aikido includes the use of the jo (short staff) and boken (wooden sword) as well as disarming techniques of a knife. Most of the empty handed techniques in aikido are derived from these weapons so the use of these weapons is trained for a better over all understanding. Just enjoy yourself and when you start understanding what you're doing you're just on your path to further growth.

Answer 3

i'm no expert in aikido, but we pick up jo and bokken early (basic bokken suburi is required for 5th kyu test, jo for 4th kyu). However, O Sensei does not recommend weapons, because the techniques of aikido are all modelled after weapons, and therefore, he reasons, he's done the work for you already.



I do agree that it is the instructor's perogative to teach - or not to teach - weapons at any level.