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.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Friday, September 3, 2010
Welcome Back to Aikido Classes
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!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
My teacher's teacher - Saotome Shihan
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
Saotome Shihan studied with O Sensei. Shihan means Master.
Your children will find the quick trailer very interesting!
Watch Video
Why organized sports?
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.
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.
Monday, April 6, 2009
A Parents guide to choosing a Martial Arts School
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!
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You’ve decided: It’s time for my child to study a martial art.
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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!
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
This was originally sent as an email to my students on March 9th.
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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)
__________________________________________________
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)
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Ikkyo - Sept powerful idea
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.
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.
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