Children's Program
| Dates of children's classes for the year 2009-2010 | 7 years old and below | 8 years old and above | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | September 5th 2009 | to | December 13th 2009 | 90$ | 100$ |
| Winter | January 9th 2010 | to | March 28th 2010 | 70$ | 80$ |
| Spring | April 10th 2010 | to | June 20th 2010 | 60$ | 70$ |
| 3 semester package | 180$ | 200$ | |||
Large family rebate: 30$ per session per child for additional children
This page aims to explain the goals and philosophy of the aikido instructors who develop and run the children's program.
Goals of the Program
Above all, the aikido courses of the children's program are not primarily based on technical achievement in aikido, but on personal development. If the children enjoy themselves and succeed in integrating into the group and observing the rules and etiquette of the dojo, we are very satisfied.
Of course children, like adults, are all different. We don't all progress in the same way. Therefore, we want to allow each child to focus on his or her personal steps in learning rather than focusing on constant competitive comparisons with others. To accomplish this, instructors make the kind of individual suggestions and corrections that can only be done by knowing the characteristics and progression of that child. That having been said, we must help our students to become open to the suggestions and corrections of others. It's our belief that only by accepting other views in a humble way that interior progress and growth can be achieved. Also, we believe that our students can improve themselves through helping others. We work on this skill, with students taking the responsibility to help in a patient, non-judgmental spirit of partnership.
Semester and Class Schedule
The children's classes are divided into 3 semesters per year:
- Autumn semester: about 14 to 15 weeks from September to December
- Winter Semester: about 14 to 15 weeks from January to April
- Spring Semester: 7 to 8 weeks between May and June
Class schedule:
- Saturdays from 9:00 to 10:00
For students under 8 as well as all beginning students. Advanced students are also welcome to attend, as they can practice the important skill of helping to initiate new students to the program. - Saturdays from 10:00 to 11:00
For advanced students - Sundays from 9:15 to 10:15
For all children (children under 8 with the permission of the instructor)
Participation of Parents
Parents or guardians accompany their children on the tatami to assure their safety and confidence as they begin their practice. Also, this presence enables parents to really feel the atmosphere on the mat, leading to a better understanding of our philosophy of practice. Although instructors may discuss details of aikido technique to parents in the course of a lesson, this is not an aikido class for adults. The role of the parents is to help their children understand the procedures we have in place to show respect to others and to ensure their own safety. In this way parents can greatly assist in the smooth functioning of the class. As soon as a child feels comfortable in the class and with the other students, the parent can back off and let the child practice with as many other children as possible. The parent can observe from afar and practice with other children while maintaining a reassuring presence on the mat. In this way, we have found that the parent gradually and naturally becomes less 'necessary' to the child, eventually leading to total independence.
Discipline
Both children and adults have to show appropriate respect to their partners and to their instructors. The behaviour of each child is monitored by the instructors and their assistants. The instructor giving the class is the one who decides on any disciplinary action to be taken if necessary. For example, a student may need to be taken off the mat for a short "time out." If a more serious problem arises, the instructor and assistants discuss the matter and let the parents know of the behaviour and any actions taken. That having been said, in our 10 year history we have rarely had any serious problems. On the contrary, we have observed some cases of tremendous progress with students who have learned to help and be tolerant of others.
Respect of Dojo Etiquette
The etiquette of the dojo works exactly the same way for all who practice aikido. For example, an aikidoist must face the kamiza (front of the dojo) and bow before stepping onto the mat. As soon as the instructor is ready to begin the class, the students line up facing the kamiza to 'bow in' to the class and the instructor.
If the child arrives late, he or she must wait outside the tatami until the instructor gives permission to join the class.
If a child absolutely must leave the tatami during the class, he or she asks permission from the instructor teaching the class. The students are aware that one can only leave the tatami during class for real emergencies, and not to go take a drink of water, for example. After the demonstration of a technique, a child must choose a partner to practice with as quickly as possible, without taking time to select anyone in particular. The child must accept to practice with everyone in the class without discrimination. All students bow to their partners before and after they practice with them.
It goes without saying that children on the mat must have clean feet, short nails and hair attached if needed.
It is also important for students to take good care of their equipment, folding and keeping their gi's clean and folded between classes.
These notions of respect do not end when the class has finished. We truly believe that this respect for etiquette creates an atmosphere that encourages respectful relations with others.
Program of study
The aikido program has been developed with the consultation of all the children's instructors and assistants and has been approved by the chief instructor, Claude Berthiaume shihan. This program is a guide intended to provide the students with the technical foundations of aikido. The instructors show different ways to do aikido techniques, concentrating on one detail at a time.
We try not to be too rigid in our methods with the children, trying to respond to what the students themselves suggest and what seems to work best for them at a given time. For example, weapons practice was introduced when children showed interest, and was greatly appreciated. We have found them to be a stimulating way to review technique, and an excellent way to keep the students' interest.
Attendance
From the beginning of the session we ask students to mark their attendance on the sheet posted in the dojo each time they train. This enables the instructors to keep track of students' accumulated practice and judge whether they have practiced enough for their next exams.
Exams
In aikido there is no competition, but children and adults both do exams. Exams in aikido are more like a public demonstration that allows the student to see their own progress in their learning. The exams are done in the dojo with the children's instructor and the chief instructor Claude Berthiaume shihan officiating.
There are 5 levels in our children's colored belt system:
- Yellow Belt(Done after a minimum of 20 hours of practice)
- Orange Belt (After a minimum of 25 hours after the Yellow Belt)i
- Green Belt(After a minimum of 30 hours after the Orange Belt)
- Blue Belt (After a minimum of 35 hours after Green Belt)
- Brown Belt (After a minimum of 40 hours after Blue Belt)
Children have 2 or 3 opportunities during the year to do exams, sometimes during a regular course but often at the same time as an aikido seminar.
Seminars
A seminar in aikido is when a special invited instructor comes from outside to give classes. During the adult seminar weekends, we try to organize a class for children with a special invited instructor as well, either from our dojo or from outside. This usually happens once per session, at no additional charge to the children. The great benefit of a seminar is to show the children that the instruction of certain techiques can be different from one teacher to the next, but the general rules of aikido stay the same. They can then become flexible to different approaches and teachers. Their learning can only be improved with these new experiences.
After the age of 12
Until the age of 12, a child can only take part in classes within the children's program. In some cases, after 12 and until the age of 14, a child can attend one adult beginner class per week at no extra charge.
However, the instructor of the children's program must first be convinced that the child has the experience and is ready to enter an adult class, and the chief instructor Claude Berthiaume shihan must also give his permission. This child can only go to the adult classes at this age if they continue to regularly attend the children's classes. This is first done on a trial basis--children's instructors observe the child during the adult classes for a while, to make sure that the child is obeying all the rules and that there is minimal risk of physical injury.
From the age of 14, students can register in the adult program.