Attempting to join a Martial Arts class

Coming over here, it was my intent to learn a traditional Japanese Martial Art. I had no desire to do Taekwondo, mainly because I didn't want to get into a situation where they would be teaching techniques that contradicted the way I've learnt them at Bai Rui, because I really don't want to get into relearning things again! Thus I wanted to do one of Judo, Aikido or Jiujutsu, arts that would complement rather than compete with what I already know.

When I first arrived, I made a few enquiries, but didn't get any information, and then I got busy and kind of forgot about it. Last week, I finally had a chance to talk about it to one of the teachers I work with, who used to do Judo until a recent shoulder injury. He didn't think the place where he used to train would be appropriate for me, but found me information for a place reasonably close to home (20 minutes by bike), where friends of his trained.

Today Hunter and I went to check it out. It was just drizzling as we left, and it didn't take long before it started to pour. Fortunately however, Hunter knew where to go, as it was close to a couple of his schools, so at least I didn't have to worry about getting lost.

We were invited to watch the class, so we sat down, and watched, with mounting suspicion, as child after child trotted in, seeming mostly between the ages of about 7-12. A few of them recognised Hunter and said hello... The class started, and there didn't seem to be a non-instructing adult in sight. However, it turned out that after the "main" children's lesson advertised on the website, there was an adults/senior belts class.

I managed to talk to a few of the instructors/senior belts, and we managed to communicate the necessary details about pricing, the fact that I should come to the adult class starting at 7:30 and not the kids class starting at 6:30, and that yes, I would be happy to purchase a uniform, but yes tracksuit pants and a t-shirt would be ok for the first lesson. Also, strangely enough, one of them knew exactly where I live. Turns out he knew a previous AET. Kinda freaky when someone you've just met says, "Oh, so you must live at ..., and your landlord is ...".

So anyway, I'll be there next week to give it a go. Hopefully, we'll be able to understand each other well enough for me to learn something! Hopefully, Hunter might also enjoy it.