AIKIDO is a defensive martial art that aims to enhance one’s physical and mental balance.   Practice in Aikido develops both self-confidence and respect for others, while enjoying a physical activity that teaches how to neutralize rather than promote aggression. This demeanor is emphasized in both the children’s and the adult’s classes. 

Classes are one hour long. The first 10 minutes are occupied with warm-up exercises. The remainder of class activities alternate between repeated body movements to improve body-mind coordination and defense techniques. These are all done with a partner. 

In children’s classes we also include games designed to emphasize Aikido principles and techniques.  For proper training and safety, children’s classes are conducted with several adults co-instructing. This allows us to group the children according to age and ability. The children are given a sufficient amount of activity to work out their day's tensions.

Our primary goal in any class is for no one to become injured during practice.  Rolling in response to a technique is a basic skill in Aikido.  Our instructors teach how to fall and roll safely from the very beginning. This enhances self-confidence when doing the techniques. Techniques for children focus on simple avoidance, taking the other person’s balance, and neutralization methods. The joint locks associated with adult Aikido are not used with young children.

There are no competitions in Aikido. One of the basic tenets of the art is to teach that a practitioner is not meant to vanquish an enemy, but to restore harmony to a situation. Sometimes this means neutralizing an aggression; but more often it simply means avoiding a bad situation. While Aikido emphasizes awareness of one’s surroundings and demonstrating a respect for other people, reacting decisively with correct technique equally important.

Aikido has a ranking system (colored belts) for children. Practical tests are taken after prescribed numbers of practice hours and attainment of minimum levels of proficiency.