Sydney Aikido Yuishinkai - aikidoinsydney.com

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 kids? Aikido teaches kids calmness. Of course, kids 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 we do teach them correct calmness. This is entirely different from keeping their emotions bottled up. Aikido calmness feels good.

Aikido helps kids at school. By training, kids 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 kids 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.

Kids have the ability to learn basic Aikido principles through exercises, games and techniques. Kids 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 kids "how to be strong" and how learning to stay calm and relaxed can be much stronger than things like 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.

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 enroled your child in Aiki Kids is to have done their self-esteem a great service.

Aikido is a very deep art that has many facets and although Aiki Kids only 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. The Seven Mysteries, a collection of seven of these natural skills for aikikids, are so called because as they develop they arise naturally and unforced, and seem to have no limit to their depth. Aikido does not require athletic talent and does not rely on size or speed. It is more dependent upon the coordinated 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.

Aikikids will learn about: Calm in Action, Ki, and Blending.

Aikido is based upon movement that originates from the Tanden or Centre ( a dynamic point of focus in the lower belly ), and this understanding of movement can benefit all types of physical activity. Aikikids 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 Ki'ai and Ukemi. Ki'ai is a shout that originates in the Centre, filled with Ki, and can be employed either to call for help or to distract an attacker. 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 lifeskill that can, and has on many occasions, saved people from very bad injuries and even death. Aikikids will learn about: Ma'ai, Ki'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. Aiki Kids discipline is self-disipline. 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.

Aiki Kids instructors 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 loungeroom, it is a unique environment dedicated to specialised training in Calm and Focus.