Children's Aikido
Louise Wills
Senior Children’s Instructor
Aikido is a martial art that teaches practical self-defence techniques and skills for daily life.
Aikido will not teach your child how to fight or be a hero.
Aikido will not teach your child violence to sort out problems.
Instead, Aikido will teach your child how to avoid, or to manage and control violence.
Children will learn that the most appropriate response to an attack is simply to get out of the way, then, if necessary, to control the attacker. We teach children to blend with their opponent’s energy and lead their opponent through an aikido technique, instead of using force to block an attack and then counterattack. Children will learn how to blend with their partner, developing skills to redirect movement so that conflict and physical injury do not occur.
Unlike many martial arts that emphasise straight-line, direct movements such as punching and kicking, Aikido is based on natural movements where children respond to an oncoming force by moving out of the way, and by controlling their opponent with relaxed, powerful, circular motions.
Aikido is a martial art that enhances and develops focus, physical energy and concentration. This training helps children develop calm, clear minds. As a result they absorb knowledge more easily and think with greater clarity, thereby enhancing focus and concentration at school.
The training increases the awareness children have of what is happening around them and of the intentions of others. It also develops agility, co-ordination, and relaxed power that doesn’t depend on strength. Increasingly, children become aware that when they move correctly, they do not need to rely upon size, strength or athletic ability. The positive benefits to mind and body will flow through to all types of physical and academic activity.
Our aim is to provide children with skills for daily life, to deal with difficult situations and people, so they do not want to resort to aggression or violence, but have the ability and confidence to deal with it decisively when others employ it. We teach children to maintain a positive mind in a stressful situation, so that when they encounter conflict they learn how to relax and redirect the energy, or simply to leave the conflict. They learn conflict resolution for daily life through the practice of Aikido.
We teach children that staying calm and relaxed can be much stronger and have a greater impact than anger, force and aggression. We teach our children that aggression is not appropriate, and to meet it instead with confidence and measured control. The awareness, judgement and confidence they develop is directly useful in all aspects of life.
Through the concentration that children will use as they learn practical self-defence techniques, and through the energy they expend during the fun, skills-focused games, they will naturally push themselves emotionally and physically beyond what they think they are capable of.
Our training is serious and committed, but also fun and joyful.
And the end result? Children who have a sense of calm, quiet self-assurance and respect for all human beings.
What Happens at the Dojo?
The dojo is a training hall. It is a refuge from the outside world where we like to maintain a sense of calm and focus to ensure that children reach their full potential at training. Experience has shown us that children respond more positively to learning if the parents leave the dojo quickly and quietly once they have dropped their child at training, allowing the child the time and space to focus on the task in front of them.
Throughout the year we will provide opportunities where families are welcome to attend and join in demonstrations to ensure that parents remain in touch with their child’s progress and understand what their child is doing.
We also request that children arrive 10-15 minutes early, allowing the class to start on time, and that children arrive and leave with an authorized adult, or have an appropriate note if arriving or leaving unaccompanied. [For further information on our occupational health and safety approach, and our child protection strategy, please read the OHS page on this website.]
As you would expect in a martial arts environment, there are some etiquette and dojo rules that all who enter the hall are expected to observe, to focus minds and set the environment for successful learning and safety.
We start the class with meditation, then exercises and stretches and training in ki. The majority of the time is then spent learning Aikido technique and thinking, with the help of games and exercises specifically targeted at the objectives for the class.
Children’s classes are held on Tuesdays 4.00 p.m.-5.00 p.m., during school term.
Where?Training takes place at the Scout Hall, Hovea Street, O’Connor.
Cost?The fee is $100 per term.
Children will require a training uniform, a Gi. Gi can be ordered from either Louise or Murray prior to commencing training, at the first session of the term, or at any session if your child starts during the term. The cost of a Gi varies, but is typically around $35.
Aikido
Yuishinkai Canberra
Mobile: 0400157732 (Louise)
0412413366 (Murray)
Email: murray.loader@bigpond.com