How do you teach Aikido to Children?

By Peter Bernath, 6th Dan, Shidoin
[Editor's Note: This article is the first in a planned series on Aikido and children. It is written by Peter Bernath, who in addition to being Chief Instructor of Florida Aikikai and one of the senior instructors of the US Aikido Federation, is Co-Editor in Chief of Aikido Online.Photos courtesy of Florida Aikikai]

For some reason, teaching Aikido to children is very challenging for many instructors. It's amazing that such little people can strike such fear in the hearts of so many big black belts. Even experienced Aikidoka who are excellent instructors for adults can become absolutely clueless when it comes to teaching children.Today there are numerous books, videos and web sites devoted specifically to teaching Aikido to kids. A lot of the information they contain deals with "Aiki games", designed to teach kids Aikido movement and to hold their attention. Games can be fun from time to time but I think the best way to teach kids Aikido is simply to teach them Aikido. Aikido is fun to do whether you are eight years old or eighty. Aikido is supposed to be for people of all ages so why try to reinvent the wheel when it comes to teaching children?A number of years ago I had the opportunity to assist Shibata Sensei when he was still living in Japan and teaching the children's class at Hombu dojo.

Before the class began, I asked him what type of games he did with the kids. He looked at me somewhat surprised and said that he didn't play any games with them at all, he just taught Aikido. I remember the class was conducted about the same as a normal adult class and all the kids had a great time. I've structured my own children's class similarly ever since.I began teaching children's class when we first opened Florida Aikikai in 1980. Over the years, both my children have practiced in the kid's class.

My teenage daughter Madison is still training, which makes me feel less anxious about her eventually dating boys … in 20 years or so. Over the years I've made certain observations about teaching children, which I'd like to share. While I know a lot of this will be obvious to you, I hope you nonetheless will find something of benefit.In terms of actual instruction, I've found that children learn best with minimal verbal explanations. They seem to easily pick up the techniques by simply watching and doing. For example, in teaching a forward roll, I just try to get them to do a somersault at first. I avoid giving any long technical explanations of what angle to roll or where to put their hands etc.

After a few classes and a couple of pointers, they start doing Aikido type rolls simply by watching the other kids.My goal with the children is for them to have fun while developing good basic Aikido skills. It then becomes an easy transition into adult class (although most of my kids enjoy being with their friends and are in no hurry to join the adults). I'm happy to let them be kids as long as they like.We have testing and colored belts in the children's program similar to other martial arts. I believe it is important for kids to be rewarded for their progress, especially when their friends in other martial arts are getting trophies and colored belts. However, we try to not make it pressured and competitive. They get pushed enough in school, and in other sports and activities they're involved in. I don't want them to feel they have to test at a particular time or are in competition with each other. We emphasize that testing is beneficial because of the preparation and hard work that is put into it, not just because they are getting a new belt. We stress that Aikido is unique in being non-competitive and we try to have all the events in the dojo reflect that attitude.Children's class, at Florida Aikikai, is conducted similar to an adult beginner's class.

We usually begin with breathing meditation. I have the kids line up in seiza with their hands folded and thumbs touching. I tell them to concentrate on their breathing, counting up to ten and then repeating the process. When they realize their mind is drifting I tell them to resume counting their breaths. Basic meditation like this helps to calm and focus the kids.After a short warm up of general stretching and wrist exercises, we practice tai sabaki and the rowing and ikkyo exercises. The kids like to count in Japanese during these exercises, quite loudly I might add. We also spend a lot of time on ukemi drills. They make two lines with the seniors going first so the newer students can see what to do. The drills include:

small forward and backward rolls
forward shikko with forward rolls
backward shikko with backward rolls
large standing rolls forward and backward
forward roll, tenkan backward roll
forward breakfall laying out (i.e. koshinage ukemi)
forward breakfall and stand up (i.e. ukemi from projection)
forward leapfrog breakfalls over each other's backs.
forward and backward shikko with turns.

We then line up, the instructor demonstrates a technique and the children pair off and start training, just like in the adult class. We usually pair the kids off by experience level. Sometimes the higher ranks will practice a more advanced variation of a technique and the younger ones a more basic movement. Or the seniors will do nikkyo while the juniors practice ikkyo. We end each class with kokyudosa and meditation before bowing out.Along with ukemi, the most important things for the children to learn in the beginning are, hanmi (ai and gyaku), tai sabaki (irimi, tenkan, tenshin) and kokyu (ikkyo) arm movement.

I use these terms repeatedly while demonstrating a technique. It helps them attack properly and they also start to see similarities in the different techniques they practice.For example, when a child becomes confused doing kotegaeshi, I can just tell them to tenkan when uke punches and tenshin when they apply the technique. It helps the children find the connection between their Aikido drills and exercises and the techniques they practice.One other thing I'd like to mention is the great impact of parents' involvement in the children's class. Once parents of the students start getting involved, it makes the program run much more smoothly. Some parents train themselves and can help with the instruction, providing much more individual attention to each child.

Others don't train but help out in other ways by bring in snacks, assisting with parties or even taking the littlest one's to the toilet. It's nice for everyone when the dojo becomes a family affair.We now have almost fifty children in the dojo with classes three times a week. As the program grew we started offering other activities for the kids like hosting birthday parties and having pizza / video nights. The kids love to watch the old O-Sensei videos and apparently any video that has me taking ukemi and getting smashed.Camps and seminars are also a great addition to a children's program.

They're just as beneficial for kids as they are for adults. I always see the children's Aikido grow by leaps and bounds. It's a good place to introduce a new weapons kata, or explain more about the philosophy and principles of Aikido.Incorporating arts and crafts into the seminar and camp curriculum allows you to expose the children to other aspects of Japanese culture as well. Younger and older kids alike enjoy making Noh masks, folding fans, writing in Japanese calligraphy, composing haiku poems or making fighting kites. It gives the kids a break from physical training and educates them at the same time.We end each camp with a party, where we serve Japanese food like sushi, and make rice balls and other dishes. We often combine this with a ceremony in which we award certificates.

These events are a lot of fun and it's also a good way to generate added income for the dojo. I am very pleased with how rewarding they've been for everyone and it helps in building a close camaraderie within the dojo. It's good to see the interest being generated in children's Aikido. The focus and attention being given to the youngest members of our Aikido community is very heartening, after all, they are our future.

Priscilla, Queen of the Dojo-Attack Like a Pansy... By Nev Sagiba

There is no need for a mimicry of form to look like aiki techniques when the attacks are pansy-like. Indeed, no possibility of real aiki to arise exists when an attack is false. A simple slap will do. But pretending has nothing to do with either Budo, self defence or anything remotely resembling anything “martial” and especially not Aikido. You may not like me for saying this, but it’s the truth. If you intend to get into harmony with the universe and not some fantasy idea about a cartoon, then , as the saying goes, get real!

Neither shidachi nor uchidachi can afford to practice a half baked re-enactment, as it will lead to bad habits which will cost dearly if you ever need to survive. There is no real aiki present unless the attack has some oomph and skill in it. You need intensity, attitude and emotional content... ferocity. Puckering up and mimicking a shape is meaningless. Perfunctory bagatelle in perfect pleats serves no useful training purpose in a budo dojo. Why bother? No one is going to pretend to attack you in real life, so why pretend to defend? Just give ‘em a gentle back-hander, call them Priscilla and tell them to get real or go home and do something else. There’s dishes to be washed in the sink, baby, and how long since you swept the floor or cleaned the windows? Training is not an excuse to avoid common chores or a nagging partner.

Aikido is not a self indulgent pretending and fopping around or showing off. It is a means of coming to terms with all the forces in the universe as they really are, and integrating them into ourselves as a package of peace and power combined. The universe is not ‘all nice,' it is INTENSE! Aikido training is a razor-edged path of self-perfection. Not merely something you bother with when the crap on television is worse than usual. If you are to improve, it must be as real as you can make it and still be safe. And then press the envelope.

Focus.

If you want to attain transcendence of attack and defence, you first have to know what an attack is, what a defence is, all the implications of real attack and real defence and then begin to work. You must enter the dojo with a spirit that your life depends upon it and leave the sweet smelling incense and daydream attitudes for other occasions.

Denial of factuality is not a method of approaching understanding. Or capability. And least of all, awakening. If you are going to train, treat it with the respect which is due, treat all your training partners likewise. And make your attacks real, yet still tone them down to a level which is safe for the person you are training with without compromising either integrity or sincerity. And then gradually press the envelope. Attack as if you mean it, not as if you can’t be bothered being there, or are faking it. Be honest. Research and learn and feedback honestly. Attack honestly. Defend honestly. And leave the mighty transcendence to a higher force. In due course and proper season it will arrive of its own accord. Provided you train seriously and diligently.
There can be no pseudo budo. Aikido is for converting adversity into harmony. Fluff is not a threat so there is no raw material to reconcile other than nonsense.

Budo, if it is anything at all, is the training for the creative mitigation of futile circumstance, particularly needlessly manufactured adversity, as in any form of misuse of freedom of volition, namely violence. The stronger the aggression the more powerful is the fuel for the aiki to manifest itself. In practice this must be simulated as honestly as it is possible to do safely and sanely.

Our training either is Budo or it is not much at all, and Aikido is Budo.