Aikido

Aikido is the youngest martial art. It originated in Japan and its founder is Morihei Ueshiba. Aikido as a martial art traces its roots back from the 9th century AD from the martial art called Aiki-jutsu, but today's modern aikido was created at the beginning of this century, or more precisely, between the two world wars. For the common man this does not mean much, but it is necessary for its further insight into this martial art. The word Aikido consists of three parts: AI - which symbolizes harmony, KI - which symbolizes our inner being and DO - which means path. All together would mean "the way of achieving harmony with our inner being," or as it is usually translated "way to achieve harmony with the energy of the Universe."

How many times it has happened to you to inadequately respond to the actions of your environment, how many times it has happened to roughly snap at your best friend just because you were annoyed by someone else, how many times it has happened to you to hit your child because of minor things or because the boss at your work brought you out of tact, you know what I'm saying, but there are many examples as such. It just means that there is a discrepancy between what you want to do and what you can do in your life. This leads to frustration that must be manifested somewhere, or a man just breaks, explodes and usually ends up in one of facilities. We all know and we all felt on our skin that life today is not easy. Everything happens too fast and the brain must constantly be on guard because if you lose an opportunity that you suddenly get, you are aware that you probably won't get another. It creates a state of constant tension and stressful life. What does that have to do with a martial art? It's very important! Aikido is here to get you back on track. Aikido is there to calm you and to channel your negative energy. Practice of martial art that does not look like karate, judo or Taekwondo, sambo or kickboxing... You will find what we all had long been lost, and that is peace and tranquility, to walk down the streets without fear and nervousness. Aikido will help you to not be afraid of a bunch of bullies while walking our streets, cafes and restaurants, and on the other hand will give you the necessary spiritual balance that will allow you to say the right things at the right time and to not snap in front of your family members or at your boss ... Aikido is a self-defense martial art based on the joint locks and throws but it is much more than that. Aikido is the way you tame yourself and come out from this fight as a better man.

The answer is easy - practice! Aikido is very grateful because it is not asking for physical predispositions nor certain number of years of your youth to be able to train - even physical strength is not important, but it requires persistence. This is not a martial art that you can master in one night. Aikido will change you, your virtues will get to the surface and flaws will be suppressed, it will provide coordination, security and stubborn persistence with which you will be able to overcome almost anything, but such changes do not happen overnight, so from beginner to aikido master should pass at least five years of hard work. It's not much, because once you fall in love aikido, it iften becomes your interest for all your life.

Aikido is a martial art of self-defense. This means that there is no competition in Aikido because it simply is not possible. There have been some attempts to make the sport of Aikido but they all ended in vain. Aikido is a non-aggressive martial art that teaches us to defend ourselves against aggression and not to be a cause of it. Therefore, it is often said that it is a martial art for pacifists. Physical techniques in Aikido are techniques of control - when an attacker is disabled using joint locks which are performed on all joints (arms, legs, neck, spine) and throwing techniques. Also as an addition to physical techniques, there are the use of the wooden staff (JO) and sword (BOKEN). The sword techniques are very important for aikido because many physical techniques arose precisely from its use, but it should not be confused with a Kendo that deals exclusively with the study of the sword.

Aikido gives great importance in the special field of defense against knife. Aikido teaches us how to protect ourselves from all kinds of attacks by hand, foot, head, or some cold weapons such as a knife, stick or any variations of these weapons. Everyone can train aikido - from 6 to 77 years of age, regardless of gender. It is especially suitable for girls because it allows physically weak person overcome an opponent who is twice her weight. You ask how? By using joint-locks and throws. Aikido uses the power of the opponent and the energy that the opponent uses to attack you, then you just return it and use it against him. Therefore, anyone who can lift a weight of 8kg may practice aikido because you will never require more force than that to overcome your opponents.

Did it happen to you that your child comes home barefoot, only in socks? It's just an old story about bullying in the new conditions. Children who steal other children shoes, bags, clothes, lunch money and so on. This loss, no matter how much it costs, is nothing compared to the fear and humiliation suffered by your child. You will tell them that everything is fine and that it is nothing but it will still have to go to the same school and to deal with same kids prone to harass the weaker than themselves. Then the parents usually opt for an aggressive variant of sports such as karate or judo, so the child learns to defend itself, and their thinking is absolutely correct. But then happens what usually happens - the child comes into the new environment where all already have their status and begins the usual beginner harassment that inspires even greater fear in child and, even worse - a dislike towards martial arts. That doesn't happen in Aikido.

The techniques are practiced in pairs, anyone can be a partner to anyone, they help eachother to master the technique instead of being the enemy that must be defeated. Training on aikido has no antagonism which often happens in the halls where people train combat sports, where children are divided into a A, B, and C categories. Some are competitors of A team, second B team and C team are the reserves, etc. Consciously or not, it creates differences between children because it is normal that some kids are more talented than others and that they arrive in a so-called A team faster. Regardless of the parents wishes, children can see that and wonder why they are not in A team, why can't they travel to competitions. When they finally realize that they are not good enough, that leads to withdrawal and general aversion to train anything, for fear that they won't be good enough. That does not happen in Aikido - because there is no competition - all the children are the same and everyone is treated equally. It is normal that some children are progressing faster and some slower, but coaches have time to devote to children who progress more slowly because they do not have a deadline to chase to prepare the team for some kind of competition. This provides a great advantage and to the coach and the kids because in all the training there is no nervousness, no one is in a hurry. A child can learn the technique in a week or two, it does not matter. Therefore, training feels relaxed and that is hard to find in any other hall. When I say relaxed not think the lack of discipline because discipline in training must exist, because the techniques that are taught are not harmless and the concentration must be on a high level. We all know that children today are overloaded with school and obligations. Almost all children go to extra classes in English or they are learning computer skills, which means they spend many hours sitting. Therefore it is not surprising when they come to training and they can not coordinate the work of the left and right leg with left leg or right arm. This is now a reality and everyday life. That is why on the children training they work on their motor skills and coordination of movements, which often leads to children later be able to achieve better results in school physical education classes and stop to avoid PE classes because of fear. However, for me personally one of my favorite events was when a kid from the club, a six year old, came to the training very proud and he told me that as of today he won't be "bullied" in kindergarten. I asked him why and he answered: "I was attacked again today by the big bully that beats me all the time and I twisted his arm and he cried. Now he will not bother me anymore ..." A six year old, all proud and with a broad smile on a his face, and barely a meter in height. Believe me, as I coach the younger group and every effort is worth for just such a smile - relieved of fear, full of confidence, that once again believes in himself.

But what does that mean?

That's all very nice, but how to achieve it?

Aikido and children