Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! The vast majority of those who join our club have never learned a martial art before. We will help you to learn safely and comfortably. You will be shown each step of each technique clearly, as often as needed.
It's not necessary to wear a white suit ("keikogi") to train with us. If you do wish to purchase a suit, and you are a student, the club can order it for you and will usually pay part of the cost.
As well as weekly practice, MU Aikido Club takes part in larger training courses with other practitioners of aikido. The first such event each academic year is usually a beginners' course which takes place over a weekend in Galway. Additionally the club enjoys a few social dinners over the course of the academic year. While COVID-19 has prevented us from taking part in these events over the past couple of years, we look forward to the opportunity to resume them. Images of these events, along with pictures of general training, can be seen in our gallery.
Most members of MU Aikido Club are students or alumni of Maynooth University. MU staff (and students, staff, and alumni of St. Patrick's College, Maynooth) can also join. If you don't meet any of these criteria, we suggest Gyo Fu Kan, the central dojo of the Irish Aikido Federation (Macken Street, Dublin). COVID-19 measures are in place at GFK, so please contact them in advance if you wish to begin aikido training there.
