Aikido for kids

Kanji from umnaikido.files.wordpress.com

Aikido is translated as "The Way of Harmony". This Japanese art of self defense finds its roots in Aikijujitsu, an unarmed martial arts practised by the samurais. The techniques against hand holds etc originates from the threat the samurais faced when he is refrained from drawing his sword.
Photo from Secrets of the Samurai, Oscar Ratti and Adele Westbrook, Tuttle Publishing

While Aikijujitsu deals with bone breaking, tendon tearing and joints dislocating, Aikido is refined by one Morihei Ueshiba into a "gentle" art, where one is expected to respect his/her opponents life at the same defend oneself. Well, it appears to be "gentle" that one may perceive it as a form of a dance. The black "skirt" (a baggy pants) or hakama image adds to the perception. I have met some people who opined that Aikido is too "gentle" or "girly-like" to be effective as a self defense. And, I have met a 70 year old man and a girl in her 20s who threw me off the mat with little effort. That, says it all.

Morihel Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido. (photo from www.aikidomosaic.com)

Aikido has gained popularity all over the world when "Above the Law" was released in 1988. The film starred Steven Seagal, a real life Aikido expert who employed various Aikido techniques in life threatening situation in the movie. The movie really opened the eyes of Aikido skeptics.


Above the Law. You can catch it on Astro.

Frankly speaking, Aikido goes beyond self defense. It involves character building. Aikido centered on harmonization of the mind and the body, its practitioner and his/her surrounding, one's responsibility towards his/her creator and humankind. Aikido is about managing one's ego. To me, Aikido serves as a good venue for kids as they can learn the value of self discipline and responsibility which will greatly serve them in later years.

Photo from musubidojo.org. In Western countries, Aikido for kids has long enjoyed its popularity.
Photo from www.pugetsoundaikikai.org

And oh, Aikido is fun too :)

Back in Malaysia, there are only a few Dojos that offer Aikido lessons for kids aged 7-12 years old. There is one in Seksyen 9, Bandar Baru Bangi sharing the same block with Pusat Rawatan Zahrah. There in another in Seri Kembangan (you can get the details from www.shudokanmalaysia.com).

The latest was just opened last Saturday in Dataran Sunway, Kota Damansara. There are approximately 10 kids attending the first lesson and boy, adults too can feel the fun and lively vibes throughout the session. The class is conducted by Abang Ariffin Sensei, who himself learn Aikido from an early age of 10. With 27 years of experience in Aikido, he has taught the police, lectured on personal safety awareness in UNITAR and is one of the core member of Nurin Alert. All that and he himself is a practising lawyer while managing his legal firm here in KL and in Kuching.


Abang Ariffin Sensei featured in Seni Beladiri magazine in its March 2003 issue.

Martial arts background of Abang Ariffin Sensei.

Below is some snippets from last Saturday.

1 small step for Man...
Lemme see your teeth...
Thatz correct!

Hey! If you are free on Saturdays, why don't you bring your kids to the Dojo. I assure you it will be fun for both kids and parents too. There's an area where you can hang around and watch your kid. I'd suggest you guys to go the Curve (which is nearby) in the morning and then take a peek on the class in the afternoon.

Here's the adress:
CRUSH Mixed Martial Arts, No. 8-3, Jalan PJU 5/10, Dataran Sunway, Kota D'sara, 47810 Dataran Sunway, Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya

CRUSH MMA is on top of the 99cents supermarket.

Class: 4-5 pm, every Saturday.

HOW TO GET THERE : Check out the google map below. Enlarge the view to see Jalan PJU 5/10.


View Larger Map