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-   -   Aikido for kids? (http://www.aikiweb.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7627)

Pablo Tamargo 02-24-2005 09:11 AM

Aikido for kids?
 
Hi there,

My wife is looking into Aikido training, and my kids 11 and 13 want to train too. I haven't been able to find a school (near katy, Tx) that will take kids for Aikido, they will offer Karate or Tae kwon do, but I don't want the "sports" version of a martial art for them.

Is there a reason why not to teach kids? or I'm just not looking in the right places?

What do you think about Aikido training for the young ones ?:confused:

Janet Rosen 02-24-2005 10:07 AM

Re: Aikido for kids?
 
Plenty of dojo offer kids classes. If you read around this website you will find many such discussion threads. It is not at all unusual for kids classes to be offered, often starting at age 6 or 7 depending on the dojo. In other dojo, there are no separate kids classes but older kids such as yours might be allowed in adult classes.

Pablo Tamargo 02-24-2005 10:26 AM

Re: Aikido for kids?
 
Thank's Janet,

I have been looking into the diferent threads this morning, and found some info on that issue. I found one school that will take the kids, is going to be a long raid but if the instructor id good, it will be worthed. :)

Pablo.

Bronson 02-24-2005 10:36 AM

Re: Aikido for kids?
 
Have you tried the DOJO SEARCH here on AikiWeb? You can do a radius search up to 75 miles from your city. When I ran Katy Tx it gave 16 dojo within 50 miles and 19 within 75 miles.

Good luck,

Bronson

Yuukanna 02-24-2005 04:57 PM

Re: Aikido for kids?
 
I would certainly even RECOMMEND Aikido for kids.

I started Aikido when I was in fourth grade. Of all the things I've done in my life, Aikido is one of the things that has made the greatest impact on me, and even after being away from it for nearly 10 years... it is still a great part of me, and I will be studying and practicing now until the day I die... and I like to believe, afterward as well.

bogglefreak20 02-25-2005 05:38 AM

Re: Aikido for kids?
 
In our dojo (I train in Ki Aikido) we tend NOT to accept kids (say under 15, 16 yrs old) because our sensei feels it takes a person a bit more mature (by this I don't mean physically but mentaly).

There is a lot of talk about Ki, Harmony with nature, people etc. and usually most kids don't think too much about that since they've got ohter stuff in their mind - namely who they are, what they like to do and how they fit in their milleau (there are of course exceptions to the rule).

The policy isn't very strict though. There is one kid of about 12 who began training this year. He seem eager enough but I'm not sure how he feels about all that Ki stuff. I guess we'll see if he sticks.

Don_Modesto 02-25-2005 11:50 AM

Re: Aikido for kids?
 
Quote:

Dustin Wills wrote:
I started Aikido when I was in fourth grade.

Did you teacher have you do small joint manipulation?

As a teacher, that makes me nervous re: developing joints. I'd tend to do a lot of KOKYU NAGE rather than, e.g., NIKYO or SHIHO NAGE for that reason. What say you with your experience at such a tender age?

Thanks.

Yokaze 02-25-2005 12:13 PM

Re: Aikido for kids?
 
Quote:

Don J. Modesto wrote:
Did you teacher have you do small joint manipulation?

As a teacher, that makes me nervous re: developing joints. I'd tend to do a lot of KOKYU NAGE rather than, e.g., NIKYO or SHIHO NAGE for that reason.

You are absolutely right here. At such a young age, I would think it would be a good idea to have the kids do a lot of kata (self-practice) with the bokken and jo, as well as focusing on extension and tai sabaki rather than joint manipulation.

The various kokyu nage are wonderful, as well as endless tenkan. Ikkyo and Irimi nage should be okay as well, so long
as they go slow and are careful. Heck, even Koshi nage and Kaiten nage should be acceptable for the advanced kids.

As well, childhood is the perfect time to develop correct ukemi, so that when the harsher joint-manipulating techs come later, they are capable of keeping injury-free.

Respectfully given...

Yuukanna 02-25-2005 01:05 PM

Re: Aikido for kids?
 
I believe you are right (Don Modesto & Yokaze), and I also believe that is the majority of what we practiced.

Regarding talk of Ki energy... I remember being tested and having to explain the meaning of Aikido... I remember trying to memorize words, rather than an understanding. Something about the way or path to harmony (whatever that means) with... the essense of the universe? or something like that. I got to where I could recite it, but not really understand what I was saying.

I can certainly credit Bogglefreak's comments in that respect. However, it wasn't long before that meaning came to me, and the words were understood and I came to my own deep understanding of it.
Regardless of the words also, the technique learned, and the common principals and the example shown by my sensei, showed me the same, on a level that I could understand. Actions speak louder than words, it is especially true with children whose understanding of vocabulary is not as great.

Also... back to the technique practiced as children, we certainly did do alot of Ukemi! I was proud at that age to be able to leap over car size mounds and ukemi correctly... LoL

Jorge Garcia 02-25-2005 04:13 PM

Re: Aikido for kids?
 
Paul,
I teach at the Shudokan School of Aikido and we probably have one of the larger kids groups in this part of Texas with over 30 kids in our program. We have a preteen class that runs from ages 10 -13 from 6 to 7 pm twice a week and they can come to a mixed class on Saturdays as well if they want. I also teach at the Shindokan dojo which is on Highway 6 which is a new program and is still very small but they are welcome there as well. Don't be fooled by the mapping distance. That feature on Aikiweb lists both my locations as 28 miles away but I know that's impossible since Shudokan is about a 15 minute drive east of Shindokan. I have students that come from Katy. It's a short 15 to 25 minute drive depending on which one you go to. We are the closest thing to you anyway. Hope to see your family soon.
Jorge Garcia
http://www.shudokanaikido.com

Pablo Tamargo 02-25-2005 09:54 PM

Re: Aikido for kids?
 
Thank´s to all of you,

It is great to have people responding so fast and with interest.

Jorge, my wife and I were just talking about going to visit the Shindokan dojo tommorrow, and then I saw your mesage, I think we will be there tomorrow at 1100 hrs.

Thanks again,
Pablo. :D

bryce_montgomery 02-25-2005 10:31 PM

Re: Aikido for kids?
 
I think that doing a lot of kokyu nage, irimi nage, and other projections would be alright for the kiddos as long as they stay away from joint manipulation due to growing joints...

Bryce

Don_Modesto 02-26-2005 10:19 AM

Re: Aikido for kids?
 
Quote:

Bryce Montgomery wrote:
I think that doing a lot of kokyu nage, irimi nage, and other projections would be alright for the kiddos as long as they stay away from joint manipulation due to growing joints...e

Pursuant to which: http://www.aikidoaus.com.au/dojo/index4.htm (the author has recently come onto the board; might direct questions to him...)

Scary.


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