If you can't afford it or don't have health insurance, then try pot luck in the "injuries" and "pain management" sub-sections of "health & wellbeing" in the category of "Health". You might be lucky to occasionally find a physio or OT, or student studying such, answering at the time you ask - even though you don't have pain, there's where they are likely to hang out (there just aren't enough categories in Y.A). Having voted on many answers to questions in Martial Arts, I can tell you that most of the regular repliers here stick to the same vague or biased stock-answers, afraid to be fully honest or different in their answers. They are used to the same questions but not to unusual ones like yours or mine; that said, the five people who answered before me were surprisingly nice to you - but four of them gave you a stock answer which aren't actually in your interest. For example, their stock answer is that it takes a long time to master their style yet don't tell you it'll be even longer for you and more expensive.
My professional and personal opinion, since your condition is often diagnosed by educational psychologists, is do not do aikido. Yes it is great for those with average to slightly below average cardiovascular fitness and no upper body strength, like women and older people. It's the only one of two best choices of art for the over-weight, besides sumo wrestling. But with the complication of your type of developmental coordination disorder, I do not recommend it for three reasons: 1) if you can't fully control your movements, then maybe you could one day tear the tendons or break a small bone in another student! 2) I've watched many videos on it. Schools DON'T tell new students that they need to learn how to fall and flip. The ones receiving the joint locks from the teacher are always students. I'm not a martial artist, but high IQ tells me that knowing how to fall safely is actually a great street self-defense backup, in case your goal for learning a martial art is self-defense rather than sport. But, you need to ask the physio whether you can learn how to fall and flip, plus safely do joint locks on other people, because doing falls and semi-cartwheels involve fine and gross motor skills, including good visual-spatial senses.
3) Reputable schools of any style prefer students who follow instructions. But I do wonder whether any of them have ever attended a seminar or workshop on working with people with disabilities. In fact, in all the 70+ school websites I've searched in Oz, and a few in the USA out of curiosity, NONE advertise "disability friendly" or anything to show they care about you or the laws involved. They don't even have ramps for parents in wheelchairs who have kids who might want to take up a martial art as a hobby. (In fact, this YA section is too condescendingly macho - yet more of the intelligent answers, and questions do actually come more from women and girls. It's all geared towards fit men and no one else, really, so far. They don't take you seriously, so I wouldn't trust their answers because another person asking the same question as you, but who doesn't have a disability, will get either better or vague or gutless answers from some regulars here, depending on what art you've mentioned or what goal you have. Now, the brazillian ju jitsu answers above are acceptable to an unbiased person like me, but only if you have no disability: bjj requires alot of variety coordination and twists, using all limbs, each in different directions - it might leave someone with dyspraxia in a tangled mess on the floor. (Any unethical martial art school owner would happily take your money while telling you you're making progress)
If you google "dyspraxia, hobby, physical activity" you might come across a forum where people with that disability have adopted judo, swimming, or rock climbing. Judo is different to aikido; judo uses more gross motor skills. You could try tai chi, related to kung fu, but it is jarring on the knees. As to whether you will ever get good at aikido, you as an atheist should know that there is no evidence, from you or others with a disability before they started an art, that someone with a physical handicap can reach the "master" level, aka "15-50 years", often boasted about in this section. I've not even come across any female masters in my long search despite the lie about Wing Chun having being started by a woman. (Yes, maybe it was but it was grossly altered by men with the addition of too many punches; it is a myth because Chinese culture was sexist and discriminatory against training women. They never had an order of nuns either. I'm of Chinese descent, and know more history about most things than they do). Sorry, my vented frustration with this section is related to your question in terms of anyone who is over 40, female or disabled, getting any sensitive, intelligent, & honest answer catering to the particular need & abilities of the enquirer. In reading so much garbage in this section, no "master" even mentions or asks how fit someone has to be to do their type of art. I got 1 dumb, rude answer and 2 wishy-washy answers; all of them misunderstood my first question in this section. Since I've seen you didn't and won't get any good answers, that is why I dare to rock their boat and answer your question
I recommend that you take up pilates because it trains you to hold a muscle for some time before moving to another form. That is a good type of repetition for muscle memory and strength building. It's less demanding for people with low levels of fitness to start in a physical activity. It builds lean muscles, but muscle weighs more than fat on a scale. Another recommendation, after speaking to a physio, is that you hire a personal trainer. If they are certified, they are likely to have trained in how to work with people with disabilities and others who need physical rehabilitation. They can design a special weight lifting and calisthenics or isometric type blend of exercise given your disability, fitness level, and weight loss goal. If you need a physical activity/hobby that is also social, try tennis, bowling, golfing...less complicated movements. (Another relevant vent: many of the regulars here confess that M.A is useless for self-defense, e.g see questions on crime and rape, yet also say it isn't a sport. So what is it then?! Often they use the words "lifestyle", "lifetime", "money" and "commitment" plus "philosophy" and "how martial arts has changed my life" in some of their answers - I'm not an atheist but that sounds like religion to me : ) That lifetime expense is better spent on an investment where you get rich and hire bodyguards, so their unreasonable ideas have led me to think. 9 years to become a doctor of any kind, at least 5 years of training for an Olympic gold medal - yet the brute sport of martial art needs "at least" 10 to 21 years with nothing really to achieve at the end of it. Don't trust their confused and illogical answers. They're afraid or jealous of those with talent and will find it easier than when they first started
I would have to think that it depends on how severe your symptoms are. Aiki does not rely on strength but it does use a lot of fine motor skills. The better your technique the less strength you have to use. You have nothing to lose really, I would give it a try. Your overweight should not hinder you.
Did you know that Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe has dyspraxia?
It might help you in the long term. Since you are working your motor skills and coordination. Talk to the instructor. Alot of good ones out there who can help. I do know martial arts have help many people with different ailments. Good luck hope it works out for you. AS for your weight issue. Same thing. Regular exercise will help with that.
You might want to consider a grappling discipline like BJJ. you'll spend more time on the ground were your balance isn't as much of an issue.
Try it, Yukio Mishima overcame his frail constitution with kendo and weight training after he failed his army physical.
Your going to have a hard time, take bjj or wrestling along with muay thai or boxing or savate
I was looking into aikido since it seems like something short people can do (I'm 19 and 4'11''), but I also have dyspraxia so I'll always be pretty weak and clumsy and I have a difficult time understanding directions. I'm also about twenty pounds overweight. Would this prevent me from being good at it? If so, are there any other physical activities you would suggest?
