Children’s and Youth Classes
Sadly, for the time being, we’re not running Children’s or Youth Classes within Isshinkai. We do have some Teachers in Training, some of whom may Teach Under 18s at some point in the future. Parents keen to make Isshinkai Aikido available to their children might like to consider the possibility of training themselves with a view to doing so.
What will your child get from Isshinkai Aikido Classes?
Developing the instincts to Stay Safe without becoming anxious or aggressive
Our Aikido is about greeting life with dynamism, and not settling for being a victim of circumstance, or aggression.
Positive and effective, while also being non-violent, our Aikido is tried and tested on every level.
It’s not just a theory. We practise it too.
How it works
Movement is habit forming, and can be used to accelerate learning.
The ethos behind a movement activity tends to find its way into people’s behaviour in other contexts, at other times.
A movement system can be a very powerful way to develop positive habits and learning skills, especially when it’s fun.
Our form of Aikido consists of movement that embodies certain values.
These values are applied technically, in practice, to turn them into skills.
Which means:
We Value and Actively Practise:
Curiosity
Which means we:
Act with Intellectual and Physical Curiosity
Love learning and practising creatively
So we:
Are mentally and physically present, alert, engaged and energised
Develop a lifelong love of learning and practising - to develop the skills and qualities to support us throughout life
Have physical Presence – being balanced, relaxed and mobile while not being a push-over
Welcome challenge – listen to and value other perspectives, with an ethos of co-creativity
Learn the skills to stay safe by neutralising violence, if we are confronted with it, without feeling a need to join in with it
Honesty
Which means we:
Act with Intellectual and Physical Integrity
Can learn quickly from experience and stay healthy mentally
So we
Are mentally and physically in one piece, developing discernment and strong resilience - able to pick ourselves up and persevere
Reduce or eliminate negative or destructive habits that support living in fear and stress: – such as denial, resistance, anxiety, fear of failure and fear of confrontation
Develop courage and strength of character, alongside physical resilience and solidity
Learn diplomacy – honesty doesn’t require us always to offer an opinion, but to say what we mean and mean what we say when we do
Develop the skills of relaxation that are the companions of: performance under pressure, and aspiration balanced with self-acceptance
Generosity
Which means we:
Nurture self-esteem
Understand and value what we have to offer
So we:
Nurture our own self-esteem by practising generosity – thereby realising there is enough good in ourselves to share it
Nurture others’ self-esteem through our generosity of spirit and positive attitude
Strive to be all that we can be, thereby inspiring and giving permission to others to do the same
Look after ourselves and after our wellbeing, so we can be of maximum benefit to others
Can offer leadership when appropriate, without judging others too quickly, so we retain mobility and stay free to move with the situation
Respect
Which means we:
Act with profound respect for our environment, for nature, for both the minds and bodies of others, and our own
Value what is passed-on to us, and what our actions will leave for those who come afterwards
So we:
Are aware of danger, where it is real, with a realistic sense of its power, while remaining able to move quickly and appropriately to stay safe
Understand boundaries and how to thrive amongst them
Are conscious of different cultures and are able to prosper in diversity
Value each other and others, for how we differ and for what we have in common
Are proud of the positive in our heritage and the footsteps in which we choose to follow
Are respectful where we once might have been afraid
Gratitude
Which means we:
Notice value, and acknowledge it whenever appropriate or practically possible
Embody a state of mind that will provide a solid foundation to mental health and resilience
So we:
Value what we receive, and feel richer for it
Tap into a vast inner resource that will help us maintain a healthy level of equanimity when needed
Measure success by what we gave in the achievement of a positive outcome for all, including ourselves
Appreciate and use to our advantage the guidance given to us to enable us to learn and progress
Gain a clear sense of our progress within that context, and of the abilities we acquire, from which we build sound confidence
Maximise the opportunities open to us
Join the waiting list
Be the first to join us once covid has passed and we can responsibly resume children & youth classes.
Where
Children’s and Youth Classes are available at Isshinkan near Andover UK
If you’ve found anything of value in this resource, please consider donating, however small an amount, to the Andover Ki Trust, Registered Charity No. 1061929.
Thank you.