Introduction for Adult’s Class (Okeiko)
Although Okeiko is designed more for adults than for teens, currently all members from beginners (shiro-obi—white belt) to more experienced people (kuro-obi—black belt) enjoy practicing together, regardless of age or gender.
Through Aikido, you can cultivate overall self-improvement as you learn the art of self-defense, health, and strength, as well as find a remedy for both insufficient exercise and stress.
Within our members are many people who have had no prior experience of martial arts (Budo) or sports. As beginners, they really enjoy and learn to appreciate the practice through their experiences in training, and gradually come to their own understanding of Aikido.
Our curriculum or structure of instruction includes basic movement, safe falling (ukemi), basic forms and principles, applied forms and principles, as well as training with sword (bokken) and staff (jo). Rigor of activity/practice is determined according to each individual member’s condition, ability, and availability. This allows everybody to pursue the goal of Harmonious Aikido for themselves. Based on their time in training, and with the consent of the instructor, each year regular opportunities occur for members to participate in an examination (shinsa) in order to obtain a rank (kyu or dan) in Aikido.
Introduction for Children’s Class
Would you like your child to experience the enjoyment of Aikido based on the elements of good spirit, technique, and physical condition for self-improvement (Shin-Ghi-Tai) Then, please join us and try Aikido for parents and children. For beginners, there is no charge for the first lesson.
For admission into the children’s classes, we expect the child to be at least 5 years old and younger than a junior high school student. We may also accept children younger than 5 years old who, by completing an interview, can satisfy our requirements for participation.
In our modern competitive society, there are many unexpected things, such as bullying, accidents, and so forth. We would like to support and encourage our children to do sports, smile, make friends, exercise and more, all of which help to bring out the good inthemselves. To not evaluate their personality by standards of win or lose is a major aspect of our support, and we take great pleasure in doing so.
The underlying philosophy of Aikido seeks to tie Ying and Yang together so that they harmonize with each other. Rather than meeting conflict in another with more conflict in oneself, one of the most important aims is to become a friend with anyone. You are welcome to visit anytime and observe how we practice to achieve this. Please join us as your schedule allows.
