“What brought you here to train?”

This is a question heard occasionally here at the dojoPlace of the way; a place for strengthening and refinement body, mind and spirit; training hall usually directed toward beginning students but occasionally senior members as well.  The usual answer consists of, “I came across the website,” or “I have wanted to take up martial arts for years and a friend recommended this dojo.”  It wasn’t until the basics class party last August that I heard a very unique answer:  “I didn’t want to go to a McDojo.”

At first I had to take a moment and think about what that meant.  As I thought about it, I realized that this creative expression referred to the “fast food way” of teaching martial arts.  These "McDojos” take in as many students as possible, training them in a cookie-cutter-type system – teaching  stances, blocks, punches, and assorted kicks — and systematically go through a certain set of defined skills to achieve the next “belt.”

That expression has definitely stuck with me.  Ever since, I can’t help but compare this cookie-cutter method of teaching to my experiences at Bucks County AikidoThe word "Aikido" is made up of three japanese characters: ai - harmony, ki - spirit, mind, or universal energy, do - the way. Thus Aikido is "the way of harmony with universal energy.". The moment that I sat and observed a class of aikido at BCA, I was struck by the balance between intensity and suppleness that senior members demonstrated.  I was also intrigued by the teaching style that was offered by SenseiTeacher; anyone who gives guidance along the way; literally "born before" — focusing on the observance of the technique, the silent instruction which encouraged the matching and blending of the movement, as well as subtle suggestions offered by senior members. Instantly, I knew that this dojo was for me.

When beginning my search for a dojo, I read an article that stated, “You needed to understand the basic features of a given style before choosing where to take class.”  I now know that while it is important to understand the basics before choosing a style, it is equally if not more important to realize that in many ways that style chooses us.  This may sound overly philosophical and a bit mystical; however, after hearing many of the stories of how fellow students have come across Sensei, Patti and Bucks County Aikido, I believe this now more than ever and count myself as one of the lucky ones that “found” Bucks County Aikido.