Mulligan Sensei
Aikido Practice for Children
Aikido Practice incorporates many throws and
holds which should strengthen not only the body but also the mind and spirit; giving children a stronger sense of center, focus and self-confidence. Another important aspect of Aikido is Ukemi, or falling. Children learn how to throw and how to be thrown. This invaluable skill often carries over into their everyday rough and tumble world. In the Dojo, children also learn discipline, etiquette and language, which are inherent within the Japanese martial arts. But most important, Aikido is great fun.
At Aikido Kyoto, each new student is given personal attention and encouraged to progress at their individual pace. Beginners are integrated quickly into the non-competitive atmosphere of everyday training once the basic skill of ukemi has been mastered. Through a series of exercises and techniques, children learn to defend themselves without inflicting injury or harm upon others. Most learning is done with a partner. The pairs work fosters a greater sense of cooperation and allows the students to learn that interpersonal challenges are resolved only through mutual negotiation. At Aikido Kyoto, children’s classes are taught both in English and Japanese.
The Aikido English immersion class is taught by Christopher Mulligan who has more than 20 years experience in teaching Aikido and 30 years teaching English as a Second Language. Mulligan-sensei has applied a comprehension-based approach similar to the Total Physical Response develop by James Asher. The class is conducted solely in English. By using highly demonstrative movements, in simple English repeated week after week, children soon acquire a basic comprehension of what is being said, but are not required to produce (speak) unless it emerges naturally. Simple words and phrases are used such as ‘stand up, spread out, right foot forward’. In this natural immersion approach, there are no grammatical explanations. What you see and what you do is what it means, the movements define themselves. Aikido Kyoto also provides children’s classes for foreign nationals who want their children to learn Japanese in the same natural way.
