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OVERVIEW – ‘ART OF PEACE’ SCHOOLS PROGRAM
1. Principles of Peace Can be selected as a Stand-alone Module and Demonstration This introductory module highlights the importance of martial awareness in identifying a potential threat and calmness in responding assertively but peacefully. It also examines the ‘escalation’ process that precedes most conflict. Appropriate response choices emphasise the use of ‘power voice’, ‘behaviour naming’ and the body’s natural ‘shield of power’ as a means of personal protection. Students will practice peaceful ‘action responses’ to common threats. 2. Martial Mind School life presents a number of challenging emotional social interactions for students, including bullying. Aikido training increases confidence and self esteem and the ability to maintain a calm clear mind and concentrate under pressure. This module introduces a number of simple breathing exercises to train the ‘martial mind’ to be calm and focused. Free of ego and other distraction, the relaxed mind is better able to choose appropriate responses to all of life’s challenges. 3. Martial Body The essence of Aikido is to avoid oncoming aggression and redirect potentially harmful energy to a peaceful conclusion. Thus the only real mistake that one can make in Aikido is to not move to a safer place. Students will learn the first step in developing a ‘martial body’ - the principles of balanced movement. Because good balance and timely movement can mean escape and survival, the aim is to move without losing balance by using the centre of gravity. Students will learn how to turn safely to face a threat from behind and how to move backwards whilst extending their minds strongly forward. 4. The Spirit the Samurai One of the aims of Aikido is to take the centre of your attacker while keeping your own. To the samurai, taking the centre meant taking the mind and a split second is all that is required to wrest control from the attacker long enough to respond or escape. A click of the fingers, a distracting statement, a shout, a piercing scream or an unexpected movement is often enough to take the mind and claim the centre of an attacker. However, one must maintain the martial mind and be calm, focused and aware in order to do this. Students will practice centering and extending positive energy towards others, even those who mean harm. A simple exercise that enables every student to grasp this concept is ‘unbendable arm’. 5. Personal Protection This module examines the ‘attack ritual’, those adrenalin-driven body language signs exhibited by an attacker that indicate a strike is imminent. Students will have an increased awareness of the more subtle signs of an attack. Students will also learn how to be a ‘hard target’ by maintaining martial mind and by using the resources of martial body – i.e. ‘warrior confidence’, the body’s ‘shield of power’, balanced movement toward safety, as well as strategies to frustrate a group attack, use of noise, use of barriers, breaking free and escape strategies. see self defence detail. 6. Bullying and Cyber-bullying School yard fights can be traumatic experiences, both mentally and physically. In this module students are taught practical ways to deal with a bully without fighting. It is here the calm and alert ‘martial mind’ provides a wide range of peaceful solutions. The initial response is awareness, sensing trouble and avoidance. Second is how to deal with confrontation by staying calm, maintaining distance and respect, abiding by the principles of non-escalation and the tactical use of voice, body language and movement. One response to an attack is to create noise and draw as much attention as possible to the bully’s behaviour by ‘naming’ the particular behaviour and condemning the actions. Bullies, like victims, often suffer from low self-esteem. This strategy is aimed at building confidence in both bully and victim, thus eliminating the need for aggressive contest behaviour and associated victim responses. 7. Understanding weapons The ‘open-hand’ art of Aikido is based on the movement and mindset of the sword, as wielded skilfully by the ancient Samurai. In this workshop we introduce the sword and staff used in Aikido. Practice with Bokken (sword) and Jo (staff) develops hand-eye coordination and promotes awareness beyond the self. Students will experience the Samurai feeling of facing a (wooden) sword empty handed. With little practice, most children and young adults have still have the awareness to be blind folded and sense the silent movement of the sword towards them. 8. Aiki Principles for Life's Challenges The Japanese word ‘ai’ means harmony and the word ‘Ki’ means universal energy. Therefore, ‘Aiki’ means harmony with universal energy. In this workshop, students are taught that the principles of Aikido can be easily translated into everyday life. More often than not, an aggressor just has a need to be heard or believes that control and domination will earn praise and fill the void of low self-esteem. It is important in ‘Aiki-based’ strategies to leave ego out of the interaction and avoid creating a contest. The need to be ‘right’ all the time can be replaced by respect, empathy and a willingness to learn. The key to conflict resolution is staying calm and relaxed and resisting the urge to engage, either verbally or physically. It is also essential that students learn the importance of taking responsibility for their actions. Students will practice peaceful responses to life’s difficult people interactions – i.e. withdraw, do nothing, listen, talk, empathise, appease, negotiate, buy time or simply move the energy to another place of their choosing when they can. The aim is not to dwell on the consequences that an aggressor may or may not deliver, but to focus on positive solutions, always leaving the option for the aggressor to safely withdraw. |
"The students absolutely loved the Aikido demonstration. The
approach the instructors took to teaching the boys was an excellent
common sense approach that enabled them to learn valuable skills they
could have fun with at a later date. I would recommend them to all
schools."Natalie Horribin, Ipswich Grammar School
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Aikido - Brisbane Kids Activities, Sports : Aikido in Schools program
The Aikido schools program is based on Aikido Yuishinkai. Aikido is a subtle yet devastating Japanese martial art which does not meet force with force, but redirects the energy of an attack and subdues the attacker without injury, by using a series of coordinated movements, throws and immobilisation techniques. Aikido is known world wide as the ‘Art of Peace’.
Our Schools Program is a one off or term-based 8-part series of physically active workshops with a strong emphasis on ‘doing’. It begins with the ‘Principles of Peace’ module which introduces ‘martial body’ and the body’s natural protection resources. This module can also be selected as a stand-alone lesson and demonstration. Each of the eight integrated modules draws on key principles of Aikido and are drawn together in the final module to provide effective solutions that empower students to deal with life’s challenges, including bullying. Recent schools include Morningside SS, St. Peters Lutheran College, John Paul College and Ipswich Grammar School
All our 'schools program' instructors are fully accredited aikido practitioners, insured with Aikido Yuishinkai, have first aid training and hold volunteer 'blue cards' for child teaching and related training activities. They are experienced with teaching both very young and older children through our regular Aiki-Kids programme. We also offer a self defence programme for schools. For more information about working in your school pleaseContact us.Come and try our regular aikids classes too.
