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UPDATE (August 2009): Our class schedule has changed significantly since this blog post was published.  See www.AikidoDecatur.com for the current schedule...

I have already started a series of classes to introduce aikido into Decatur Schools. On April 1 I led a session for a group of special needs children at Winnona Park Elementary. What a great group! The room was hopping with kids training together, leading each other around, and laughing. I think their favorite exercise was pretending to be a drop of water on someone else's arm, and maintaining their connection as their partner moved all around the room.

I am contracting with Decatur Rec. to offer classes via the summer Playbook. Classes will be held in the dojo, but the Rec. Dept. will be the organizer for a four-week series of Tuesday sessions for both kids and adults in June.

And now it looks like I will be leading a four-week after-school enrichment series at Glennwood School for the Whiz Kids program, starting after the Spring Break. Stay tuned for details.

Due to the demand for a younger kids class among the many families I have talked to, I am pleased to announce that starting this month (April) Aikido Decatur now offers Aikiddos: a class for children 5 - 7 years old on Fridays from 4:30 to 5:15 pm. The second hour on Tuesdays will still be for youths and adults 13 and over. This younger children's class will focus on awareness, balance, coordination, and cooperation. There are many aikido techniques which can be adapted for younger children, but others must wait until kids are old enough to roll safely and can protect each others joints and bodies.

If you already have a child in the dojo, remember that each additional sibling (or parent) who joins will receive an extra $10/month discount on membership. (i.e., $50/month for the second family member, $40/month for the third, etc.)

As young white belts find a rhythm in their training, they begin to wonder about promotion to yellow belt.  The first demonstration (a word that fits better than 'test', perhaps) for kids comes after 25 classes and includes:

Skills:

• Wrist Exercises (Ikkyo, Nikkyo, Sankyo, Yonkyo, Kotegaeshi)
  
• Strikes with Ki-ai (Mune-tsuki, Shomen-uchi, Yokomen-uchi)
  
• Shikko (knee walking)
  
• Hanmi (stance) change - six variations
  
• Sword-strike, step-off-the-Line
  

Technique:

• Shomen-uchi Ikkyo Irimi - center strike, first technique, entering form
  

Ukemi (falling):

• Forward and Backward Rolls (standing to standing)

Families and friends, of course, are invited to watch tests, and you will know at least a week in advance of the date for your demonstration.

Unlike many other arts and dojos, Aikido Decatur does not charge for testing or promotions; a new color belt is $5.

Labels: children, rank, techniques