Aikido of Lake Keowee

Children and Aikido

"YOUTH CLASSES BEGIN IN JANUARY 2009!"

Aikido of Lake Keowee is excited to announce that we will start teaching youth ages eight (08) to thirteen (13) in January 2009! This is partly due to the large number of requests from parents and grandparents to provide instruction in Aikido to their children. Ages fourteen (14) and above are generally in the adult classes.

The art of Aikido is appropriate for youth if instructors try to avoid placing stress on their young joints. As many former gymnasts and ballet dancers can testify, too much stress on the joints at an early age leads to trouble later on in life.

Second, since aikido is a complex art our youth classes emphasize blending and harmony instead of forceful techniques. Our classes will be also be filled with fun and offer some exercise. In addition to the health benefits of movement through Aikido, we encourage creativity and personal growth. Absence of competition should be a must between students. Classes should also last no longer than an hour and no more than two (02) to three (03) times per week to keep their interest and motivation high. We are interested in them learning mental and physical life skills. We do not want to be the flavor of the month or the local McDojo.

Our youth classes are designed to teach discipline, focus, awareness, self-control and self-defense. Youth are taught that there are ways to deal with conflict without necessarily fighting. In response to a physical threat, Aikido teaches methods that work with the attack to defeat an aggressor using their own energy. This helps to negotiate size, speed, and strength. We emphasize blending and harmony instead of forceful techniques.

Then there is the lingering moral question whether youth should be taught martial arts. This is often debated even among professionals. There are schools who will be happy to take parents' money, and often have parents sign a multi-month contract or sign up for a special black belt course. Often they are providing nothing more than a costumed baby-sitting service. Study of the martial arts, like study of any other art or discipline, can produce wonderful effects on the student's character.

But we believe that teaching young children martial arts is like teaching them to drive: it puts them in possession of power before they may be mature enough to use it responsibly. Therefore, we do not teach them how to dominate, inflict pain, or hurt others. We teach them to avoid having it done to them. Conflict resolution and responding to bullying is another goal of Aikido. These objectives are a big difference in our progarm and most martial arts programs.

Some teachers may even say that they teach the ethical use of martial techniques, but I would not want to depend on the developing moral compass of a child when I sent the child off to school. It seems far too likely that the child may want to try out his or her new-found knowledge on other children! Again, proper instruction should be building integrity and character, not fighters. Harmony and blending is our goal. Developing a child's confidence with realistic responses is another goal. If youth learn the basics, the concepts, principles, philosophies, techniques that we offer, and continue their regular training, they will become very successful in the execution of the principles and techniques when they are older! More importantly, they will become better persons.

If your child shows interest in the martial arts, we recommend that parents reserve becoming a member of our dojo as a future reward for good behavior, good grades, and a helpful attitude around the house; as well as good behavior with other children and adults. In short, the child should earn the right to train in the arts. By the way, that's how it used to be in Japan - if someone wanted to study at a dojo, he or she had to present a letter of introduction to the instructor which vouched for his or her dedication and good character. Unfortunately, this is a tradition that never caught on in the USA.

Parents who look at any martial arts schools with children's programs should require the following things, at a minimum:

Safety --- under no circumstances should children spar, even with so-called safety gear; a lot of attention to breathing, form, and posture is good
Fun, non-competitive atmosphere
Close supervision by the chief instructor
No pressure to sign contracts or other "package deals"