What is Aikido ?
- Aikido is a Japanese martial art that teaches self-defense and how to manage conflict situations through exercises with weapons and empty hands.
- Aikido is intended for anyone with good intentions who wishes to learn an authentic, non-competitive martial art.
What equipment should be brought ?
- For the first sessions, you can wear loose-fitting pants and a shirt to allow free movement.
- Wooden weapons (Bokken and Jo) are available at the dojo.
- Students who wish can later obtain the training jacket, training pants (Keiko-gi), and a set of wooden weapons (Bokken and Jo) from the instructor.
What physical skills are developed ?
- The execution of techniques emphasizes flexibility and joint strengthening.
- Movement exercises aim to improve balance, posture, and mastery of the center of gravity.
What other qualities does Aikido help develop ?
- Respect for one’s training partner (adapting one’s level to that of the other).
- Development of self-confidence in conflict situations while maintaining calm.
- Promotion of a group spirit: each practitioner demonstrates kindness and works with all others.
What are the goals of learning Aikido ?
- Learning to protect oneself and loved ones in various situations (such as falls, obstacles, or pushes).
- Not opposing an aggression but rather evading or absorbing it.
- Gradually acquiring an understanding of the principles underlying all techniques of Aikido, which can be applied in daily life.
- Transmitting the teachings of Aikido’s founder, Morihei Ueshiba.
What does a typical session look like ?
- The session begins with a traditional opening bow to the instructor in SEIZA (sitting on the knees).
- It continues with TAISO practice, which consists of individual warm-up exercises to acquire the basic movements of Aïkido, such as footwork and rolls.
- Then, students move on to KIHON practice, where they work on basic techniques applied to empty-hand or wooden weapon grabs.
- The session ends with a traditional closing bow to the instructor in SEIZA.
What does progression look like throughout the session?
- Progression occurs primarily through the execution and mastery of increasingly advanced exercises and techniques.
- This progression is recognized by the issuance of a KYU (grade for beginners), corresponding to a colored belt (yellow, orange, green, blue, brown, and black), with the black belt representing the 1st DAN (advanced grade).
- Evaluation criteria differ between adults and children:
- For children, three main criteria are considered: attendance, concentration, and execution of an exercise.
- For adults (beginner level), it is necessary to demonstrate knowledge of basic empty-hand and weapon techniques (a defined program) through five exams corresponding to KYU grades (from yellow to brown).
- The awarding of a grade typically occurs at the end of a school year (three sessions) and depends on the progression and attendance of each practitioner.
- Once a practitioner has achieved the five Kyu, they can take the exam for the 1st Dan grade (black belt).
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