AIKIDO INTRO COURSE FOR LGBTQIA+-PEOPLE AND FRIENDS

## AIKIDO INTRO COURSE FOR LGBTQIA+ PEOPLE AND FRIENDS

Have you been curious about Aikido — and wanted to try it alongside other queer people? This four-hour course offers a first look at the fundamentals, with no prior experience required and no performance pressure. It’s designed for LGBTQIA+ people and their friends who want to try Aikido for the first time, or who have taken a few steps already and want to go deeper.

### WHAT THE COURSE COVERS

### Two training sessions of 90 minutes each.

We start with functional movement and breathing exercises. From there, we get familiar with the mat: a range of rolling movements to help you move safely and fluidly. Gradually, you develop a sense of space, balance, and your own body.
The basic steps of Aikido are introduced one at a time — Tai Sabaki, Tenkan, Irimi. The terms may sound unfamiliar, but the movements are natural. Everything you need, you’ll learn in the course.
In partner exercises, we explore simple Aikido techniques together. The focus is on understanding the underlying principles: How do I use movement instead of force? How do I stay connected to the person across from me?

### TEA BREAK

There’s time in between to catch your breath, rest, and talk with the instructors and other participants.

### SLOW PRACTICE MEANS FASTER LEARNING

This isn’t about collecting as many techniques as possible. It’s about really feeling and understanding the movements — with patience and attention.

### YOUR TEACHERS:

### Niklas Brochhagen (he/no pronouns) and Juliane Winkler

Juliane (she/her) and Niklas (he/no pronouns) are both queer and have practiced aikido for 20 years. They continue to find joy in the interplay of flexibility and steadfastness in aikido, which enables lively interaction and strengthens the feeling of connection within one’s own body.