On Monday, March 6th, DSBK launches a 4-week INTRO CLASS series. Participants who complete the course will attain a 6th kyu belt rank — step one of six on the way to a black belt. Plus a wealth of studied health benefits for less than $10 per class!
Intro Class Schedule
Classes are on Monday and Thursday evenings from 6-6:45pm. After attending all eight classes, participants will receive a 6th kyu certification!
Full class schedule:
March 6 & 9 — 6:00-6:45pm
March 13 & 16 — 6:00-6:45pm
March 20 & 23 — 6:00-6:45pm
March 27 & 30 — 6:00-6:45pm
Plan to arrive 10-15 minutes before class to dress out, complete paperwork, and do any extra stretching you may need.
What Are Kyus?
Kyus are belt ranks on the road to a black belt, or shodan rank. Kyu ranks can vary among different aikido dojos. In our school, trainees progress upwards along a scaffold of kyus. 6th, 5th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd, 1st and then…shodan. After that, your training accumulates into ever-higher degrees of dan ranks (2nd degree, 3rd, 4th, etc).
Registration and Bonus Offers
Registration for the 8 session INTRO series is $55. AND it covers 8 regular Monday/Thursday classes as a BONUS. When each INTRO CLASS concludes, simply stay on the mats for regular class practice from 6:45-8pm.
(Drop-in class fees are normally $15 per class!)
Aikido and Physical, Mental Benefits
Hi! I’m Jenny and I’ll be leading DSBK’s new INTRO CLASS series. Aikido is a Japanese martial art with a do-no-harm approach to self-defense. Ai means harmony. Ki means energy. Do is the way. Thus, ai-ki-do is the way we harmonize energy.
I started aikido not because I liked martial arts (I didn’t — they were too intimidating), but rather because I thought the training performed with weapons was an exquisite sight to behold. I wanted to look that cool wielding a sword! I muddled through a beginner class and then many more regular classes. The more I trained, the more my life beyond the dojo changed for the better. My personal relationships were healthier. My capacity to take on challenges increased. I was calmer and more centered when faced with life’s inevitable hiccups — or landmines. A 2017 compilation of academic research on aikido found that people derive many physical and psychological benefits from this martial art. Better balance, more flexibility, boosted confidence, greater mindfulness, and reduced anxiety are some of the reported findings.
By no means does aikido promise to be some fix-all potion of your existence. However, because it operates around the central axis that mind and body are one unit, it quietly, deftly ripples through the fabric that is you. Our school also emphasizes the principle of training towards agatsu, or “victory of the self” (self-refinement). Steadily, practitioners can experience more elements of their lives unify and harmonize.
I know roughly when I started aikido (sometime in the summer of 2007). Looking back, I deeply wish I’d circled the exact date on a calendar. The day everything slowly started to change.
Aikido classes are accessible to a wide range of ages and abilities. DSBK provides a safe space for individuals regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, or gender spectrum.
Class Structure
This beginner series is progressive. Concepts from one class roll forward into the next. Learning in one class builds the foundation for what will be mastered in the next class.
You can expect 15 minutes of warm-ups. 15 minutes on essential movements and concepts. 15 minutes assembling those initial movements into complete techniques and time to practice these techniques fluidly.
Studies find (and participants can affirm) that women in particular derive many psychological and physiological benefits from training in aikido (Szabolcs, Köteles, and Szabo, 2017)
Book Your Spot Today
You can book your spot in the INTRO CLASS series in advance. Tap or click the Book Now button above and you’ll arrive at DSBK’s payments page. Select the DONATE button and then walk through PayPal’s secure and simple payment process. Or pay by check/cash/card when you arrive for class.
You’re welcome to review and sign our standard waiver. Send signed waivers to zanshin@durangoaikido.com. We’ll also have copies on hand at the dojo when you arrive for class. Please let your instructor know of any conditions that could impact your participation.
What to Wear or Bring?
Traditionally, martial artists train in a gi, which is a two-piece training uniform (loose pants and top tied with a belt). The fabric is durable and takes a lickin’. However, beginners should really only invest in a gi once they’ve tried aikido and love it. So, come wearing workout clothes, activewear, or gym clothes of some kind.
Definitely bring a water bottle and a readiness to laugh and have a great time working with excellent people.
Get In Touch
If you have additional questions about aikido, the beginner series, or DSBK’s approach to teaching, send us a text or call us at 970-426-5257 or email questions zanshin@durangoaikido.com.
About the Instructor
Jenny Mason is a 2nd-degree black belt (nidan) who has trained in aikido since 2007. She has served on DSBK’s Board of Directors as President, and now as Vice President. She has taught dynamic and engaging beginner classes for DSBK, as well as enriching and unconventional kids’ classes. Her patience, playful spirit, and clear instructions make her an ideal instructor for beginners.
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