KIDS AIKIDO
There are no winners or losers in aikido, which is pretty great, because winning and losing is not what life is about. Rather, when we practice this uniquely collaborative martial art, we are all learning to work through conflict. We push one another, to build strength, openness, coordination, compassion, and resilience
KIDS CLASSES
​Kids classes at Ithaca Aikikai are mixed-age, with an emphasis on teaching leadership skills. Bigger kids help littler kids, and kids who have done more aikido help those who are new. This format leans into what kids are good at. They're great at teaching and helping one another! It also enacts both the challenging, responsibility-taking nature of martial arts training, and the sense of mutual care that is at the heart of good aikido.
Kids should expect to be challenged and have fun! Each fun, lively class includes:
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Physical conditioning
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Paired practice
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At least one game
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Short open awareness meditation
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Participation in the customs and etiquette of the dojo
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Kids can opt to take one class a week for $50 monthly dues, or get serious and become full members. Kids who are paying the full membership rate of $100 can take as many kids classes as they want a week, and can take adult classes at the instructor's discretion. ​​​
WHAT DO KIDS SAY ABOUT ITHACA AIKIKAI?
Ximena, age 9
I like Aikido a lot because it is very fun! There are a lot of cool and fun things you do there like belt wrestling, learning to do stuff with your bokken, the techniques and a LOT more! I also like it because there are so many nice people there! And some of the things are hard or EXHAUSTING but there’s always someone there to help! Some things look very hard, but turn out to be easy. At first I was very scared, and then I realized that it is very fun. I hope to keep doing Aikido.
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Winston, age 10
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I'm a 5th grader. I have done martial arts before, but Aikido is different from other martial arts because in Aikido your goal is to work together in the spirit of cooperation instead of violence. Deborah is an amazing teacher who represents Aikido extremely well.
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COSTS
Kids memberships (1 class weekly) are $50 a month
Full memberships are $100 a month
All kids must purchase a gi, or training uniform, for $30
All kids will be working through a colored belt ranking system, which requires an annual registration fee of about $60
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