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Old 10-06-2013, 11:40 AM   #15
BAP
Dojo: Union University Aikido
Location: Jackson, TN
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 40
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Re: Aikido Focused on Seniors

Quote:
Mary Eastland wrote: View Post
I was going to do weapons for warm-ups yesterday morning. Dora broke her wrist in early August and has been on the mat since we re-opened on September, 2nd. Wanting to be inclusive I got out the swimmy noodles that are cut in half and we did weapons warm-ups with the noodles in place of bokkens. We then broke up into partners and each couple made up a noodle kata consisting of 3 strikes and 3 counters. As I worked with my partner I kept an eye and ear on the rest of the class. Everyone was busy and happy.

Just before class ended we demonstrated our little katas again. We all pretty much remembered them. This class was made up of all 3rd Dan and above but the idea could be modified for any and all levels of practice.
This is a very good example of how to adapt our aikido training for the needs of certain seniors or others, either because of injury or lack of confidence in general for certain activities. Adapting the methods and equipment to make it less threatening and just more enjoyable (less stressful) is a good idea. Can always use that method to bring those individuals eventually back into a regular class using traditional equipment (bokken etc.).

Blair Presson
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