Childrens Class

The children

Although adults might practise Aikido to develop inner peace, relaxation, or self-defence, most children don't even think about these concepts. So why is Aikido a good idea for children ? Aikido teaches calmness. Of course, children shouldn't be calm all the time, Aikido gives them the choice. If they need to sit still at school, or concentrate on homework, or focus during sport, Aikido shows them exactly how to do that. The techniques and ki testing, teach them correct calmness. This is entirely different from keeping their emotions bottled up, Aikido calmness feels good.

Aikido helps children at school. By training, the children develop calm, clear minds. As a result, they absorb knowledge easier, and think with greater clarity. Aikido is about developing the full human potential, and school is one of the most important places for this potential to be realised. Aikido teaches practical self-defence. Aikido does not require athletic talent. In fact, athletic prowess can sometimes get in the way. Aikido works for little people, since it does not rely on size, or speed, or weight.

The key to making progress in Aikido is simply persevering and having a positive attitude. What better lesson can we teach ? Some martial art instructors feel that "fun" does not belong in the dojo, because to study martial arts one must be dedicated and serious. However, for a child, any environment that promotes learning through laughter, imagery and games becomes a safe environment. This safe environment can enhance a child's ability to learn and thus begin studying the more serious side of martial arts. Having fun, playing games, and using one's imagination are part of growing up. Opportunities and permission to do all of these things allow children to take risks in a safe way by exploring their limits, Aikido can open new realms of understanding about themselves and the world in which they live.

Children have the ability to learn basic Aikido principles through exercises, games and techniques, they can become absorbed in an activity because it is fun and then receive additional benefits, such as an increased awareness of their surroundings and a better perception of the strengths and limitations of themselves and others. They have the opportunity to push themselves further, to explore their abilities, to assert themselves, to focus their attention, to push themselves physically, emotionally and mentally beyond what they think they are capable of. Aikido teaches "how to be strong" and how learning to stay calm and relaxed can be much stronger than anger, force and aggression. They learn about responsibility, doing the right thing, even without reward, about treating each other with respect and kindness. They also learn about things like bullying, or how to respond to verbal insults.

Aikido is training for the mind and body. Aikido is training for life. Aikido teaches a lighter approach to life. A plodding serious approach to life doesn't feel good. And it usually doesn't yield the best possible results. Aikido works best when you relax and feel light. By learning this in practice, our children can't help but apply this to their lives.

Aikido gives a positive worldview. It teaches that in order to create something worthwhile, you must work in harmony with your environment and others. If your mind is correct, calm, and positive, you can make something good out of whatever the universe hands you. When you step across the threshold of the Dojo you enter the world of Aikido, the Art of Peace. Having its origins in the martial arts, Aikido was created by Master Morihei Ueshiba, for the purpose of joining the power of a martial artist with the intent of a peace-maker. 'Ai' which means Love or Harmony, manifests between human beings as kindness, and upon this foundation the skills of Aikido are built.

Its mission is to create people with the strength of character and the skill to manifest kindness even in the face of overwhelming odds. To never be defeated. Thus, to have enrolled your child to practice Aikido is to have done their self-esteem a great service. Aikido is a very deep art that has many facets and serves as an introduction, it is still a high quality introduction. Behind the techniques of Aikido lie skills that come from nature, yet are usually undeveloped in human beings.

Aikido does not require athletic talent and does not rely on size or speed. It is more dependent upon the co-ordinated relationship between the mind and the body, and to achieve this, Calm and Focused Awareness become the main tools. As these develop they allow the aikidoka (aikido practitioner) to 'blend' with their opponent's ki (energy) and then 'lead' their movement through an aikido technique. Children will learn about: Calm in Action, Ki, and Blending. Aikido is based upon movement that originates from the Centre ( a dynamic point of focus in the lower belly ), and this understanding of movement can benefit all types of physical activity. Children will learn about: moving from Centre. In the practice of Aikido it is necessary to know the subtle art of keeping safe distance between oneself and an aggressor. This is known as Ma'ai. It is also necessary to know the life-saving skills of Ukemi. Ukemi is the art of safe falling. We fall many times in our lives - from horses, bikes, skateboards, motorbikes, etc. Like swimming, ukemi is a life skill that can, and has on many occasions, saved people from very bad injuries and even death. Children will learn about: Ma'ai and Ukemi.

The secret to progress in Aikido is simply to persevere and to maintain a positive attitude. This,that is so simple, is profound in its effect upon personal development. And in Aikido the rewards, subtle as they are, are real and deep. Childrens discipline is self-discipline. It is not punishment, but is part of the training in Calm and Focus. A child's misbehaviour in the dojo is neither the instructor's problem nor the parent's. It is the child's problem, and a very simple and gentle process is employed to assist Self-Calming and Self-Focusing.

Instructors can consist of men and women of all ages who voluntarily give of their time, their patience and their kindness to facilitate this training. Their greatest satisfaction is in seeing a child realize their own potential. The dojo itself is not a public space but a private venue. Neither playground, classroom, nor lounge room, it is a unique environment dedicated to specialised training in Calm and Focus.

The class	Parental support	The children

The class In children's class students learn the principles of mind and body co-ordination. This helps them direct their energy more positively and effectively, and gain self-confidence. Ki and Aikido training are combined in a non-competitive environment to teach children to utilize their full potential. This training promotes tangible benefits such as good mental and physical health. By applying the Ki principles, children improve their performance in activities such as schoolwork, sports, music and art. More importantly, they gain the benefits of having a positive attitude, respect, always doing one's best, being able to calm one's mind, concentration, and self-discipline. The art of non-dissension applies to leading and following in the dojo. It also applies directly to being able to get along with family, elders and schoolfriends. These benefits are the result of fundamental applications of Ki and Aikido training. Good learning skills - listening, concentrating on task, and following through to completion - are naturally developed. Children gain confidence in their abilities, and as they grow, the tools and direction of Ki training provide something for them to rely on. A disciplined, cooperative environment helps them to learn to work and grow with others. The support of a child's parent and/or other responsible adult is important to the child's success. This involvement helps to direct and encourage the child to use Ki and Aikido principles in daily life. All instructors are qualified individuals who actively participate in ongoing instructor training programs to maintain certification.

Parental support The support of a parent or guardian is important to the success of any child. This is especially true for Aikido training. One important aspect of parental involvement is a basic understanding of Ki and Aikido principles. Having this knowledge, parents can reinforce our lessons in the child's daily life, thus greatly increasing the impact of training. To this end, we highly encourage parents to participate in introductory lessons for adults. These can be scheduled during any of our normal evening classes.

The children Although adults might practise Aikido to develop inner peace, relaxation, or self-defence, most children don't even think about these concepts. So why is Aikido a good idea for children ? Aikido teaches calmness. Of course, children shouldn't be calm all the time, Aikido gives them the choice. If they need to sit still at school, or concentrate on homework, or focus during sport, Aikido shows them exactly how to do that. The techniques and ki testing, teach them correct calmness. This is entirely different from keeping their emotions bottled up, Aikido calmness feels good. Aikido helps children at school. By training, the children develop calm, clear minds. As a result, they absorb knowledge easier, and think with greater clarity. Aikido is about developing the full human potential, and school is one of the most important places for this potential to be realised. Aikido teaches practical self-defence. Aikido does not require athletic talent. In fact, athletic prowess can sometimes get in the way. Aikido works for little people, since it does not rely on size, or speed, or weight. The key to making progress in Aikido is simply persevering and having a positive attitude. What better lesson can we teach ? Some martial art instructors feel that "fun" does not belong in the dojo, because to study martial arts one must be dedicated and serious. However, for a child, any environment that promotes learning through laughter, imagery and games becomes a safe environment. This safe environment can enhance a child's ability to learn and thus begin studying the more serious side of martial arts. Having fun, playing games, and using one's imagination are part of growing up. Opportunities and permission to do all of these things allow children to take risks in a safe way by exploring their limits, Aikido can open new realms of understanding about themselves and the world in which they live. Children have the ability to learn basic Aikido principles through exercises, games and techniques, they can become absorbed in an activity because it is fun and then receive additional benefits, such as an increased awareness of their surroundings and a better perception of the strengths and limitations of themselves and others. They have the opportunity to push themselves further, to explore their abilities, to assert themselves, to focus their attention, to push themselves physically, emotionally and mentally beyond what they think they are capable of. Aikido teaches "how to be strong" and how learning to stay calm and relaxed can be much stronger than anger, force and aggression. They learn about responsibility, doing the right thing, even without reward, about treating each other with respect and kindness. They also learn about things like bullying, or how to respond to verbal insults. Aikido is training for the mind and body. Aikido is training for life. Aikido teaches a lighter approach to life. A plodding serious approach to life doesn't feel good. And it usually doesn't yield the best possible results. Aikido works best when you relax and feel light. By learning this in practice, our children can't help but apply this to their lives. Aikido gives a positive worldview. It teaches that in order to create something worthwhile, you must work in harmony with your environment and others. If your mind is correct, calm, and positive, you can make something good out of whatever the universe hands you. When you step across the threshold of the Dojo you enter the world of Aikido, the Art of Peace. Having its origins in the martial arts, Aikido was created by Master Morihei Ueshiba, for the purpose of joining the power of a martial artist with the intent of a peace-maker. 'Ai' which means Love or Harmony, manifests between human beings as kindness, and upon this foundation the skills of Aikido are built. Its mission is to create people with the strength of character and the skill to manifest kindness even in the face of overwhelming odds. To never be defeated. Thus, to have enrolled your child to practice Aikido is to have done their self-esteem a great service. Aikido is a very deep art that has many facets and serves as an introduction, it is still a high quality introduction. Behind the techniques of Aikido lie skills that come from nature, yet are usually undeveloped in human beings. Aikido does not require athletic talent and does not rely on size or speed. It is more dependent upon the co-ordinated relationship between the mind and the body, and to achieve this, Calm and Focused Awareness become the main tools. As these develop they allow the aikidoka (aikido practitioner) to 'blend' with their opponent's ki (energy) and then 'lead' their movement through an aikido technique. Children will learn about: Calm in Action, Ki, and Blending. Aikido is based upon movement that originates from the Centre ( a dynamic point of focus in the lower belly ), and this understanding of movement can benefit all types of physical activity. Children will learn about: moving from Centre. In the practice of Aikido it is necessary to know the subtle art of keeping safe distance between oneself and an aggressor. This is known as Ma'ai. It is also necessary to know the life-saving skills of Ukemi. Ukemi is the art of safe falling. We fall many times in our lives - from horses, bikes, skateboards, motorbikes, etc. Like swimming, ukemi is a life skill that can, and has on many occasions, saved people from very bad injuries and even death. Children will learn about: Ma'ai and Ukemi. The secret to progress in Aikido is simply to persevere and to maintain a positive attitude. This,that is so simple, is profound in its effect upon personal development. And in Aikido the rewards, subtle as they are, are real and deep. Childrens discipline is self-discipline. It is not punishment, but is part of the training in Calm and Focus. A child's misbehaviour in the dojo is neither the instructor's problem nor the parent's. It is the child's problem, and a very simple and gentle process is employed to assist Self-Calming and Self-Focusing. Instructors can consist of men and women of all ages who voluntarily give of their time, their patience and their kindness to facilitate this training. Their greatest satisfaction is in seeing a child realize their own potential. The dojo itself is not a public space but a private venue. Neither playground, classroom, nor lounge room, it is a unique environment dedicated to specialised training in Calm and Focus.