Aikido of Tampa Bay

About 6 years ago a co-worker began talking to me about Aikido, a martial art that she had recently started taking. She made it sound so interesting that I thought I would give it a try. Unfortunately, the closest dojo, for me, was about an and a half to two hours away.

Then, about 3 months ago, I got an email from her saying a new dojo had opened in Brandon. The timing was perfect. I had just talked with my daughters about taking some sort of self-defense classes together. We all went, viewed a class and started the next week. We were nervous the first few classes and a bit confused by all the movements and terminology, but the other students and the instructor were all helpful and patient. I, for one, was hooked.

For me it was a perfect match. I had been struggling for years, trying to stay motivated enough to do some sort of aerobic exercise on a regular basis. Aikido was my solution. I got stretching, breathing/relaxation AND an aerobic workout, all in one class. Plus, there was the self-defense instruction. Exercise had gone from being drudgery to being something that I looked forward to. Simply put: it's fun!

If that's not enough, the Sensei (instructor) is very supportive of beginning students, and encourages you to do more than what you might think you are capable of doing. His classes are conducted with intensity and professionalism. Each one is slightly different, but always educational. Aikido is exercise that's fun, with a great group of new friends. And as an added bonus, I can now say that I have something in common with my teenage daughters, that we share together on a weekly basis. How may Dads can say that?