Lessons from the Aikido Children

By Sioux Hall, Harvard Aikikai
oddhallways@hotmail.com

For many years, while I loved teaching children's Aikido classes, I thought of teaching the kids as a way of giving back to the Aikido community for all it has given me. As it turns out, teaching the kids has given me more than I could have imagined.

To begin with, I can always count on the kid's class to brighten my mood. If I have had a rough week, I may groan about having to rise early to teach, but I always leave the class in a good mood. Sometimes this is from seeing a particular student make progress. It is heartening to see a child's dogged persistence in overcoming obstacles. For example one young boy struggles with forward rolls. Before every class, though he continues to roll sideways, he spends time practicing zenpokaiten. Last week he managed to figure out how to help his body learn the motion with a back roll and executed a beautiful kohokaiten. Now he just needs to do it "backwards" into a forward roll, but he knows his hard work has paid off. He became excited about the idea that he can now help other students who have been afraid of the back roll.

Sometimes I am touched by the bravery of the children. For a small child to throw an adult who may be twice their height and many times their weight, without being daunted or giving up, is impressive. I often think of what that size differential would be like for me as an adult. I imagine throwing an eleven foot tall uke or a sumo wrestler.

Many times it is the group as a whole and their care and respect for each other that inspires me. I enjoy watching the kids help each other prepare for tests, or even seeing their generosity with new or struggling students. The kids seem to find graceful ways to mix practice partners. The more advanced students alternate between practicing with other advanced students and helping junior students without making it seem onerous. There is no child consistently left behind when students bow and I see the children exhibit levels of patience with each other that I had not previously thought children to be capable of.

Another rewarding aspect of teaching Aikido to kids involves watching their developing techniques and seeing the influence of their instructors and the Shihan. The kids think I am a mind reader as I can always tell for example, when Amy Kipp has helped them work on Ikkyo ura. I see her in the entry, the hip movement and the extension. Frequently I discover that she has helped a particular student train when I must take ukemi for them and suddenly feel that "splat" coming as the mat seems to rise up quickly. Once we held a demonstration and the kids were doing kumitachi in unison to accommodate the small space we were given for the demo. As I watched them complete the series of seven kata, I was struck by their movement and presence. They did not appear to be kids doing weapons; they were Aikidoka first, ones who happened to be small and young. In their connection to each other, in their makiotoshi tsuki and precise blocks and timing, I saw Kanai Sensei's technique being passed on to the next generation.

Over the years, several students have had occasion to defend themselves using what they have learned in Aikido. It was gratifying to know that children and young teens could effectively defend themselves. In one case, a teenager, who had been practicing since the age of five, protected himself and his brother against a gang of 5 attackers and came out of it unscathed. But what truly impressed me was that these kids, and others who have had occasion to use Aikido, haven't bragged about these encounters. Often I only find out about these incidents from the parents. The pride the kids want to relay when they describe these events to me involves self control e.g. "I was mad but I didn't do anything extra, just pinned him until the teacher came". On occasion, students have reported developing friendships with those who had previously threatened or attacked them. This is Aikido at its best.

Last year I was organizing an Aikido demonstration in which 32 students were participating. The hours leading up to the demo were an organizational nightmare. Where do the students sit? How do they exit the stage? How can I give them a pep talk while also settling them down? As I began to gather the students in the final moments I was frazzled. My Hakama was halfway tied, my notebook was in hand as I checked the order of presenters; I was directing students and tightening up mats all at the same time. Ciara, one of the students, came up to me and said "Do you need to get centered Ms. Hall?" I had to laugh and to this day, when I start to feel frazzled I imagine a tiny gi clad Ciara in my head to remind myself to get centered.

There are many challenges when teaching Aikido to children and it is not always easy or fun. But for over twenty years I have continued to learn from and be inspired by the Aikido kids. I have learned to be a better teacher and to continually raise my expectations because they will rise to meet them. I have become a better student from emulating their natural movement and their humility. I have shared in their struggles and victories and been warmed by their spirit. I have realized that my original idea of "giving back" to the Aikido community was correct, but it will be primarily through them. Children are the future of Aikido and it has been an honor to help them begin their Aikido journey.