Abertillery Aikido Club. Bushinkai.

How do I Join?

Here are a few tips to remember, when thinking about joining Abertillery Aikido Club.
If you are about to come along to a class, and have read most of the website. (Well at least read the bits you understand!) You need to make yourself aware of a few points.

You will be allowed to attend two weeks of training before being asked to join the association we are affiliated too. This organisation is called the Shin-Gi-Tai Aikido Society.
 
This body will provide you with training insurance, which is very important. They also hold regular local Welsh course's for you to attend. You will not be forced to attend any of the listed course's, but we would like to see you participate in a maximum of two per year. No one will twist your arm to go. It would be in your interest to go along and mix with other Aikido people from other clubs. You will also have the opportunity to learn different things. When you start to climb the grade ladder, you would then be expected to attend a minimum of two per year.

You can attend either lesson per week, and you don't need to make any special arrangements. If you send an email, just to confirm you would like to come along, and state which day you will arrive. We will then know you will be turning up, and make arrangements for a senior grade to practice with you. This senior grade will stay with you for the first few weeks until you feel confident enough to practice with the rest of the class.

What paperwork do I need to complete?

Here are two links to PDF files which you will need to complete and bring to class. The first is the clubs accident disclaimer form. It sounds dramatic, but it's not! It is just a declaration that you understand that Aikido is just as dangerous to participate in as any other activity. Accidents do happen from time to time, and you need to make yourself aware that you could at any stage in your Aikido career, injure yourself.

Accident Disclaimer Form
Shin-Gi-Tai Application Form

The second form is to join the governing body. Both of these forms can be completed online. Just type your details in the spaces provided, and print the form off. Everything you type will go on to the form, as if you were filling it in by hand. You will need to sign both forms. The second form is not required, until you feel you want to continue with your Aikido training. Unfortunately, we will not be allowed to let you train after the initial two weeks, unless you join the Shin-Gi-Tai Aikido Society. We feel two weeks is long enough for you to decide if you like what you are doing, and want to continue with your study of Aikido.

The membership fee is £12 per year. There is no fee to join the club itself. The current training fee for both Wednesdays & Thursdays is £3.00. We will look in to reducing this fee, as the club grows.
As stated on the website, we can order your training suit & weapons at a much reduced rate, than the High Street shops. Please see the Club Instructor for more information.

When you are ready to take an Aikido grading, which is judged on knowledge, and not a sporting contest, you will be informed by the club Instructor. There is no grading fee, but you will be charged £1.00 for a certificate.

If you need any further information, please do not hesitate to contact the Club Instructor by email. Your enquiry will be answered within 24 hours of receipt. All email addresses can be found on the Contact us page. Please use the link, as it places the enquiry message on to the email. Due to a high level of spam received, your message might be overlooked if you don't use the correct button.