Teacher Nancy's Aikido Kids!

Our new Fall 2011 Schedule is ready!

2011-08-02T19:21:00.000-07:00

You can view our new Fall schedule here. Fall registration is now open... contact us for more information!

I'm excited to announce that I will be participating in and assisting with Friday evening adult classes over at Aikido Northshore in Kirkland starting in September.

2011 Derby Days

2011-07-10T19:45:00.000-07:00

Mom and I arrived early, and started blowing up balloons!

We found a great shady spot near the fire department.

Here are Grace, David, and Gina ready to walk in the kids parade with me.
The parade was fun, and so was the festival afterwards!

Thanks for celebrating Redmond's Derby Days with me!

Meet me at Derby Days, July 9th!

2011-07-08T18:53:00.000-07:00

Pancake breakfast at the Firehouse at 8am, Parade at 10am, Festival at city hall after. I'll be pulling a wagon with my a-frame business sign, and lots of balloons! You can get our cool new "Aikido Summer Fun" t-shirt for only $10 each if you catch me before the parade!

New blog page - video link list

2011-04-08T13:29:00.000-07:00

Please check our our new page of videos links. Hope you find them helpful!

Aikido Snow Day (Thursday Feb 24)

2011-02-24T08:48:00.000-08:00

We will not try to have classes today at Aikido Kids. There is only about an inch of snow in North Redmond, but schools are closed, and I hear that higher elevations got more. Unfortunately, it looks like temps will stay near freezing, and snow is forecasted for later this afternoon. Hopefully the weather and roads will improve by tomorrow. Stay safe and warm, and enjoy the snow holiday!

Yes, we're open (wed Feb 23)

2011-02-23T14:07:00.000-08:00

Roads were bare and wet in Redmond. Come to class if your road conditions permit!

MyGym: Coming soon to AikidoKids!

2011-01-11T07:25:00.000-08:00

We are working on an arrangement with the Bellevue MyGym to teach classes at AikidoKids! Hope to have more details for you soon!

6 Things You Should Never Say to Your Child

2011-01-11T07:20:00.000-08:00

for Parents looking for answers: 6 Things You Should Never Say to Your Child

Snow day - Wednesday, Nov 24th 2010

2010-11-24T10:04:00.001-08:00

So sorry to have to cancel again! Still so cold, and the surface streets are very icy. Stay safe!

Everyone have a happy Thanksgiving, and I'll see you again next week!

Aikido Kids Snow Day - Thursday 11/23/10

2010-11-23T13:41:00.001-08:00

Sorry to have to be closed today. Hopefully it will warm up tomorrow! Check back around 1 or 2pm tomorrow.

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-22T17:12:00.000-08:00

Gratitude is an important part of the art of Aikido.   We begin and end each class with a bow of gratitude.   We are grateful for the classroom, the teacher, our fellow classmates, and O'Sensei's gift of Aikido.   Each time we finish practicing a skill, we stop and say "Thank you very much" to our practice partner.

Thanksgiving and Christmas is a wonderful time of year to emphasize how many wonderful things we have in our lives, and to practice thankfulness with our children.   Please have a safe and wonderful holiday this week.

We will be open for classes on Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving.    In case of bad weather, please check this blog, my Facebook page, the Aikido Kids Facebook page, or your email for a notice about weather-related closures.

Welcome Back to Aikido Classes

2010-09-03T21:26:00.000-07:00

Our fall classes begin on Tuesday, September 7th! I'm excited to be back in the dojo, with new things to show you from my trip to Summer Camp in Colorado!

We've expanded the schedule, adding an extra class on Tue,Thur, and Fri. Saturday classes will run for 1.5 hours for 3 weeks out of 4. This will allow me to attend training seminars without such a big adverse impact on my Saturday-only students.

On the home front:

I had a fun and busy summer with my family, and face this school year with a new challenge: My forth-grader is attending the Washington Virtual Academy (WAVA), and I am the "learning coach". I'll be supervising and guiding her education during the day, in addition to my work running the school, and teaching classes, so be patient if I seem especially forgetful!

My 11th grader will be getting his drivers license this month, and attending the local community college thru the Running Start program. He's already loving it... his classes don't start until Sept 20, and all his XC team mates are already going to HS at 7:25 each day!

My 20 year-old step son has decided to return home this school year, and will also attend community college classes to prepare to transfer into UW next year. We're all so happy to have him back home.

Finally, my #2 step-daughter and her husband welcomed their first child, a daughter, one week ago on August 27! I'm a (step) grandma! We're all in love with the new baby!

My teacher's teacher - Saotome Shihan

2009-08-18T15:22:00.000-07:00

Here is a quick look at very advanced Aikido.
Saotome Shihan studied with O Sensei. Shihan means Master.
Your children will find the quick trailer very interesting!

Watch Video

Why organized sports?

2009-08-18T07:31:00.000-07:00

I get a newletter from Jeffrey Gitomer, an expert on Sales and the art of selling.
In this article, he explains (using Baseball as the example) some of the things that organized sports of all kinds can teach us about life and success.

A Parents guide to choosing a Martial Arts School

2009-04-06T16:37:00.000-07:00

A (much) shorter version of this article was published in print version of the Redmond Reporter on Friday April 3rd. I hope you find it helpful!
_____________________________________________________

You’ve decided: It’s time for my child to study a martial art.

Now, how do you find the right school? That depends upon your goals and your child’s personality and age. Take time to do some research. Talk with other parents, and search the Internet to locate potential martial arts programs that will meet your needs. As you search, keep these factors in mind.

What is your goal?

Most parents enroll their children in martial arts because they want two things: life skills training and some basic self-defense skills. They want their child to develop discipline, respect, focus, self-control, and self-esteem, while learning to channel some of that boundless energy in a constructive way. Parents of preschool and elementary students may also be looking for basic classroom and social skills.

Be aware that your child’s goals may not be the same as your goals. Try to find the areas of overlap, so you can find the school that is the best fit for your family.

Some of other goals might be: gold medal tournament competition, earning a black belt, doing better at school, dealing with a bully, learning to respect others, better physical fitness, or more self-confidence. Rank your goals in order of importance.

What is your child’s personality? Bold or reserved? Already focused, or needs focus? Aggressive or non-aggressive? Competitive or non-competitive? Does your child have special needs? If personality is a factor in enrolling your child in a martial arts program, be sure to discuss this when you call the school for information.

What is the school’s focus? Winning tournaments, teaching the art, or developing better people? Is the art competitive or non-competitive? Is competition required? If so, how often? What is the expense?

Does the school offer a strong children’s program? Many martial arts schools have a strong adult program and a smaller children’s program. A few specialize in children’s instruction. What is the youngest age student accepted? If they accept Preschool and KG students, is the instruction age-appropriate? What are the class sizes, and instructor to student ratio? Do they have beginner’s classes, mixed skill level classes, or both? Do they offer class times that will meet your family’s needs? How many days a week is the commitment? Is there a contract or is the program month-to-month? Can you start any time, or only at certain times? When it’s time to leave the program, what is the procedure?

Instructor’s background. Will the class be taught by the same person each time? What is their background – not just in the martial art, but as a teacher? Do they have a special skill set that will help them with your child? If your child has special needs, are they comfortable with that?

Time to Visit
Please don’t enroll in a program without trying out a class first. You will gain a wealth of information simply by walking in the door that first time. Here’s a checklist:

Location. Is it reasonably convenient and close to home? Will the traffic that time of day discourage you from attending?

Instructor. How do you, your child, and the instructor get along? Does the trial class stay on track? How is classroom discipline handled? Does your child come out of class happy and excited? Is the teacher still happy and enthusiastic after class, or frustrated and worn out?

Cleanliness. A martial arts school might smell like sweaty bodies, but it shouldn't reek! Does the classroom and waiting area meet your personal standards of cleanliness? Are there tissues and sanitary hand wipes available? Is the mat easy to clean? Vinyl mats are easier to clean if children have an accident.

Did your student like it? If you like it and your child likes it, you have an easy choice. If not, you’ll have to decide what weight to give your child’s preference. Some children hate anything new and need two to three months to become comfortable. Use your best judgment based on your knowledge of your child.

What about Price? Price is important to your budget, but not the primary reason you should choose a school. Most schools in our area are within the same price range, and any differences in price will tend to reflect the cost of rent in each location.

Remember: Call first, then visit the schools you’re still interested in. Most local martial arts programs will offer a free trial class, just ask!

Change Yourself: notes from March Class with Ikeda Shihan

2009-04-06T16:33:00.000-07:00

This was originally sent as an email to my students on March 9th.
__________________________________________________

I spent some time this evening reflecting on what I learned from Ikeda Shihan this weekend, with the goal of passing on some part of that information to you.

We spent our time studying physical and energetic aspects of Aikido, most of which I can barely comprehend, much less teach. These high level classes can be very mysterious. However, Ikeda Shihan based most of what he was trying to teach us on this simple direction:

"When you are in a conflict, don't try to change the other person,
change yourself."

Well, if we would all work on doing that as best we can, then we wouldn't need much other Aikido would we? If you need some ideas on how to go about doing that, I'm available for further discussion. ;-)

-- With Love, Teacher Nancy Churchill
Aikido Kids! a life skills school425 284 1513 (w) 206 605 3068 (c)

Ikkyo - Sept powerful idea

2008-09-14T12:32:00.000-07:00

The word "ikkyo" has a lot of meanings!

1) Ikkyo is a self defense skill. Ikkyo means "first technique", and it is the first technique that O Sensei taught to his students. Another more descriptive name is "Arm Bar" because in this technique, the arm is straightened at the elbow and used as a lever (or bar).

2) As a life skill, Ikkyo also contains multiple ideas:

a) To enter (or be) Without fear: learning to face and release the fears that stop us.
I think it is important to discuss with the children that "Fear" is not always bad!
Fear is designed to stop us from hurting ourselves:
fear of a hot stove
Other fears stop us from doing something that we really want or need to do:
fear of the first day of school, fear of failure

b) Without hesitation: learning to "stop trouble" before it starts!

I do this when I give my students the "evil eye" or (worse yet) "the eye+index point"

I shared with the students a story about how my neighbor has woken me up at 11pm all summer long as he puts out his trash on Sunday night. He has to drag the trash cans right past my bedroom window, and being woken from a sound sleep, this tends to sound like monsters coming in the window - giving me quite an adrenaline rush. I didn't want to be a bad neighbor (ie I was afraid to complain), so I just put up with it.
...Until last week, when I got really aggravated, and finally said something to the neighbor about it. Lo and behold, this week the trash went out during the day! Woo Hoo!
... what if I had said something WEEKS ago...instead of hesitating? Better sleep all summer long. This type of "Social Ikkyo" is a very difficult practice for me! If you hear a voice in your head that says "What will they think...?" you might need to use this Ikkyo.

I have more to say on Ikkyo, but I'll save that for another post.

Reminder: Upcoming Summer Break

2008-07-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder that Aikido Kids! will be closed for two weeks:

July 27 thru August 9th

We will open for the August Session on Monday August 11th. Enjoy your break!

I will be attending an Aikido Camp in Glenwood Springs, Colorado during this time, which is an important part of my ongoing Aikido training. If you'd like to know more about this camp and the instructors, please see these links:

http://www.bujindesign.com/seminar_reviews/2007_9_article_1.html
https://bujindesign.com/featured_articles/2006_11_article_2.html
http://www.bujindesign.com/featured_articles/2006_9_article_2.html
http://www.aikidojournal.com/article.php?articleID=241&highlight=kenji+ushiro

While I am gone, I will mostly be unavailable by phone or email. I recommend that you wait to email or call me until August 11th, so that your question doesn't get lost in the junk mail.

Word of the month (July/August 08): Strength

2008-07-17T07:32:00.000-07:00

The word of the month for July is "Strength". The Japanese word is "Chikara".

There are many types of strength. A person can have a strong mind: they are very smart. A person can have a strong spirit: they have a strong personality, or great determination. A person can have a strong ability: they are good in a subject like math, or have a great physical skill, like soccer or baseball. A person can have strong talent in an art: like painting, drawing, writing, or even Aikido. Finally, a person can have a strong body: they have good health, or they may be physically strong.

In my personal Aikido practice, it has been my experience that when I developed my physical strength, my mental and emotional strength and my strength of spirit also grew. They are all linked - body, mind, and spirit! If your child has challenges in school, I highly recommend participating in organized sports or physical arts (like dance or martial arts) to help develop their physical fitness and coordination. Even if you just add a family walk after dinner, you will see improvements in your child's fitness and the family will benefit from the relaxed group activity.

For the summer, the Aikido Kids challenge is to build strength by jumping rope every day! I will provide the jump rope, and we will begin class each day by practicing jumping. I have been surprised by how many students don't know how to do this simple skill, so please work with your child to help them master it.

If your child is new to the jump rope: their challenge is to do 50 jumps a day, with a goal of triple that (per day) by Labor Day.

For students who already jump rope: their challenge is to do 100 jumps a day, with a goal of triple that (per day) by Labor Day.

Please help your child create a chart to track their progress toward their goals, and remember to celebrate their successes, rather than nag them about their forgetfulness. Make it your job to help them remember to do the jumping, and help them count their jumps as a way to stay involved in their Aikido practice. They'll love your support and participation.

Zanshin - Awareness (week 1 lesson)

2008-06-10T19:27:00.000-07:00

The Power-word for June is Zanshin. Saotome Shihan defines zanshin as the "constant awareness of space and surroundings". As I was teaching the Week 1 lesson, I saw many parents listening carefully to see how I would present this idea!

The youngest students are just learning "awareness" - being awake and seeing what is around you.
The next word they stumbled on was "constant" - all the time.
Some students didn't know "surroundings" - everything all around your body

In the Week 1 lesson, we introduced these words and concepts and talked about using awareness in our daily life. When we lack zanshin, we trip, stumble, bump our heads, break bones, stub toes, spill milk, and run into people. When we have zanshin, we move gracefully, stay safe, and avoid accidents! What a handy ability to have! Finally, we discussed activities/places outside of Aikido when we might need good zanshin: on the playground, crossing the street, at the dinner table were a few examples.

Remind your student that "zanshin" is a skill that can be learned through practice. Gently remind them to "wake up" to their surroundings when you see them drifting off task. Tell them "You have great zanshin!" instead of "You need to focus".