Aikido: A Different Martial Art for Children
NEW! KIDS' ART-AND-AIKIDO SUMMER CAMP!
Four hours of fun and learning, with Aikido, fine art, origami and calligraphy!
Four Days, Tuesday July 22 through Friday July 25, this Summer: 2 p.m. though 6 p.m. Half-Camp (2-4 p.m. or 4-6 p.m.) options available!
How will Aikido help your kids?
Aikido is an ideal martial art for kids as the classes are noncompetitive and nonviolent, providing safe, effective and realistic instruction. Our instructors and business manager, Kristine Jones, are trained to give each child personal attention: we get to know each child’s strengths, weaknesses and motivation. Children gain self-defense experience while learning discipline and conflict resolution, gaining confidence and increasing flexibility and fitness, in an environment that supports social interaction, sportsmanship, camaraderie and fun.
At Redlands Aikikai our view of the martial arts is that they include but are not limited to self-defense. Rather, a martial art is an education that is meant to enhance the emotional, physical and mental health of the person and, through that person's growth, of society.
Aikido helps children improve their physical, mental and interpersonal skills, in a safe and non-competitive environment. Basic movement, posture, stretching and nonviolent self-defense are taught in a supportive and fun atmosphere. Safety and etiquette are primary concerns, so students learn how to interact respectfully with each other and to stay attentive and considerate. Also, because Aikido techniques involve a constant awareness of distance, timing and physical relationship, children develop a sophisticated interactive awareness.
You are welcome to try a class at no
fee and see how it works for
your child. Parents may join the adult classes too! Clothing should be
comfortable and allow free movement.
Uniforms are available for purchase (and are
included free in our Beginners' package: see the fees
page).
Class Format and Testing
Class begins with a formal opening and a series of warm-up exercises and stretches. Then children practice safe forward and backward rolling. Most of the class time involves the demonstration and practice of Aikido hand techniques (students practice with a partner). Older children also do some work with short bamboo sticks (shinai) that helps their coordination. The class ends with fun Aikido games, and has a formal closing.
New children are given special attention during the first few days of their training, working with a senior student to learn safe rolling during the early part of the class. After that they join the regular class.
Testing in Aikido is non-competitive. Testing takes place after fulfilling time requirements and when the teachers feel the student is ready. During the test, students are required to demonstrate growth in Aikido technique, basic rolling skills, and etiquette. A certificate and colored stripes or belts are awarded after the test is completed.
Our tests are conducted on four Friday
evenings in the year, during which all members of the Dojo - children and
adults - get together for testing and supporting each other. This is
followed by a Dojo potluck.
Children’s Instructors
Children's’ classes are taught by the team lead by Janet Wilson, first degree black belt in Aikido. Wilson Sensei, who is Director of the Children's Program, is a senior elementary teacher with the San Bernardino School District and has been training in Aikido since 1995. She is assisted by other senior students. Our chief instructor, Chetan Prakash Sensei, maintains an active presence by teaching some classes each month and supervising the more senior students' tests, as well as the instructors own continuing training. All our instructors are CPR and First-Aid certified.
Aikido Training is Especially Good for Children
Aikido has the benefits of martial arts training: good physical conditioning and the generation of confidence, politeness, consideration, energy, tenacity and an open mind -- all qualities of character to be carried into one's daily life. Moreover many of the performing arts and regular sports are greatly benefited by martial arts training in general and Aikido in particular.
Children and adults learn to respond to situations (and not only those of self-defense!) with compassion, decisiveness and appropriate force. This is because Aikido engenders an attitude of cooperation beyond the usual camaraderie of training with others, given its high ethical basis in protecting from harm both the attacker as well as the attacked.
Why we do not teach Aikido to children under 6 years of age: Anyone watching an Aikido class will soon realize that a certain basic level of hand-eye coordination, memory and concentration are essential. When children are too young, it is simply impossible to teach them anything resembling the actual arts involved in a martial art. Martial arts classes for very young children usually involve teaching the kids to repetitively punch and kick air and so tend to be very regimented and stultifying to the children's creative discovery. Yes, such classes do teach discipline, but of such a low order that parents would be practicing such discipline with their children in the natural course of parenting. Based on our study of developmental psychology and our knowledge of what is required in a martial art, we feel that children below 5 or 6 years of age need to spend much more time in free play than in play-acting at being martial arts students. We think it is unfair to give little children the impression that they are practicing a martial art when in reality they are trapped in a rather rigid day care facility.
Self Defense aspects: In Aikido confidence comes from knowing one can completely neutralize an attack without excessive force, while maintaining a mind which is peaceful and therefore effective. One can be much smaller, slower or weaker than a dangerous adversary. Practitioners find that it is safer to escape from holds and to execute throws, strikes, sweeps and pins by working in balance with the attacker's intention and energy rather than by attempting to fight against them.
While teaching children
punching and kicking can be a valuable discipline in itself, the small size
and power of children generally makes it ineffective for self-defense at
their age. Also, teaching children self-defense as a competitive sport and
giving them a false sense of effectiveness by handing them "black belts" at
a tender age is, we feel, dangerous to their social well being. Should they
ever find themselves in a threatening situation, it will certainly not be
like a match on the mat. An attacker will not be impressed by the fact that the
intended victim has a black belt. And, depending only on kicking and
punching could lead to serious consequences because the assailants may be much larger
than the child.
Equally important, children should be able to learn self-defense skills
(most importantly: awareness and avoidance!) as a by-product of a
disciplined yet fun learning environment: there should be only minimal talk of
"street" situations or violence: we feel that discussing street
situations is only
suitable in our teen and adult classes.
Aikido concentrates on aspects of self-defense in keeping with the child's size and mental and emotional capacity and is therefore more likely to help them survive a dangerous situation. Self-defense for children should emphasize awareness of surroundings and one's own feelings and it should teach how to escape from holds and strikes. This is a major component of children's Aikido training.
One aspect of Aikido training we do not cover until children are teenagers is the application of joint locks, as their joints are still growing. Aside from that, children have access to most of our techniques, including elementary interactive weapons work.
Why we do not enter into "contracts" with parents or hand out black belts to kids: The typical martial arts school contract guarantees that the child will receive some rank after a fixed length of time "if only the parents make a commitment to the training." We trust that parents and children intend to be as committed as possible, but are free to change their mind depending on how the practice is benefiting the child. We are personally confident that what we offer is of the highest value, so we do not feel the need to trap anyone into a contract that keeps them (and their money) coming in, sometimes for years, even if the school is no longer suitable for the child.
We believe that students' progress is at their own pace and by their own choice so that, unlike some martial arts studios, we do not guarantee ranking according to a rigid schedule. And because we consider a black-belt ranking to be a recognition of maturity and responsibility as much as of skill and time in training, we do not believe in giving black belts to children under the age of 16 (see also above, under "Self Defense aspects"). We strive instead to build character, confidence and skill in all our students: this is how we contribute to a happier world.
Redlands Aikikai
Redlands Aikikai has operated in the Inland Region since 1994. Its mission is to offer, to children and adults, the highest quality of traditional martial and inner art instruction.
Chetan Prakash Sensei is Redlands Aikikai’s Chief Instructor. He holds a 5th degree black belt, has been practicing Aikido since 1983 and is Professor of Mathematics at California State University, San Bernardino. He received his Ph.D. from Cornell in 1982. Redlands Aikikai is affiliated with the internationally recognized organization Aikido Schools of Ueshiba, headed by Mitsugi Saotome, Shihan.
Schedule and Fees
There are two regular children’s classes each week and one advanced class:
Kids (ages 6-teen): Wednesdays and Fridays, & Advanced Kids (ages 9-teen, by invitation only): Mondays, 5:00 to 6:00 pm (doors open after 4:45 pm)
Monthly cost: Please see our fees page. Children may start at any time (pro-ration is available) and may choose to come to one or both classes each week for the same cost. The visitor class fee is $8 per class: you are welcome to try out a first class free of charge.
Advanced Kids Class: This is a class dedicated to the older children with enough experience of Aikido to go to the next level. The class also prepares teenaged children for a smooth transition to the adult Aikido classes and towards joining our national affiliate, Aikido Schools of Ueshiba. This class is by invitation only and parents are informed when their child is ready to take this class.
Children attending Advanced Kids are welcome (and encouraged) to continue with one or both of the regular Kids' classes each week. There is currently no extra charge for Advanced Kids.
A Note on Observing Class
As parents you are welcome to observe the first couple of classes before deciding if this program is right for your children. After that we recommend to most parents that they do not make it a practice stay in the classroom itself, as children are easily distracted. Many parents will be comfortable with leaving for the duration of the class. For others, we have a comfortable waiting area in the front area and the passageway through to the Dojo will remain open at all times. If for any reason you need to look in briefly, please feel free to do so. And if, for emotional reasons, your child needs to be with you during class, please feel free to take the child until she/he is ready to return to practice.
Directions
Redlands Aikikai, 721 South Nevada Street, Suite 306, Redlands, CA 92373.
Phone: (909) 335-5411:
From the I-10, take California Street, South. Left at Redlands Boulevard, right at second lights onto Nevada Street. Take the second driveway on the right. #306 is at the far end on the left; please park in the central parking area.
We also offer:
Kids and Adult Yoga
Adult Aikido and Adult Aikido Weapons
Adult Kendo
Tai Chi
Zazen Meditation
Five elements Tibetan Chi Gong
Questions
If you have questions about our kids’ or adult classes, please call the dojo at (909) 335-5411 or visit our web site at http://www.aikidoredlands.org