Adults Program

Aikido is a martial art, yet the ultimate goal of Aikido is a peaceful resolution to conflicts. Aikido achieves this goal by employing techniques that enable one to control the aggression of an attacker in such a way as to protect the attacker as well as oneself.

The most obviously visible goal of Aikido is self-defense. Students will be offered training in self-defense techniques - techniques that will allow them to safely control an attacker who is bigger and stronger. They will be challenged to learn how to roll and fall with safety and grace. The difference between raw strength and power will be made evident in many ways.

One less visible aspect of Aikido involves techniques to manage and control aggression - both aggression externally directed toward you as well as that generated within. Students in the class will be taught how to use an attacker's energy to allow them to control an attack, and this serves as a not-so-subtle metaphor for how to manage other forms of attack. They also learn, physically, the most basic of lessons - in the Aikido dojo, whoever attacks, ends up on the mat.

Additionally, learning Aikido involves teaching your body to do uncommon things. To become familiar with Aikido requires considerable practice, but the rewards for that practice are physically apparent - our students learn how to do things that were previously quite impossible for them. The rewards for continuing practice become clear, which can make it more likely that the student will find it possible to pursue other challenging goals that require ongoing practice.

Aikido practice continues to pay dividends in later life, and is one of the few martial arts where you actually get better as you get older.

What is covered in the program?

2010 update in progress

2010 update in progress