Chiba Sensei Reveals the Difficulty in Teaching Aikido to Children B
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ISSUE 16 MAY 2018 Chiba Sensei Reveals the Difficultyin Teaching Aikido to Children am not an expert on the sub- and have been willing to share what ject of children and Aikido, they have learned. I consider their as I have only limited experi- contribution invaluable. More Ience in the field compared with than anything I appreciate their my experience in training adults. love and concern for the well-being Furthermore, my experience is of children. limited mostly to Japanese and children familiar with Japanese culture. For this reason I believe that there are people more qualified than myself to deal with the specific is- sues unique to children’s training. I hope that we will be able to share in the experiences and knowledge of these people so that we may gain deeper insight into the subject. Children’s Aikido is important not only because the future of Aikido in this country [the US] relies on them, but because this is an area where Aikido needs to Photo: Franco Chen Franco Photo: grow in order to become Chiba Sensei, Demonstration, Warminster 1996 truly a part of this society. I am thankful for the teachers who have carried out an I understand that the work and extensive study of this subject these studies which have been carried out past few years within the USAF by these teachers has been designed Western Region. They have worked primarily to develop the basic skills to extend our ability in this area continued on page 2 CONTENTS 1 Aikido and Children Shihan TK Chiba 7 The Art of Harmony Christina Vaccaro 9 Face to Face Julie Gouthez 10 S&BB Spring Course Malcolm Blackwood 10 BB Spring Course Stuart Lovering 11 Notice-board BIRANKAI EUROPE NEWSLETTER EUROPE BIRANKAI Closing date for submission for Nov 2018 issue: 31 Sept 2018 MUSUBI BIRANKAI EUROPE Aikido and Children... or stress to learn any traditional continued from page 1 forms or techniques, they are able Founder to develop basic skills by playing Shihan TK Chiba 8th Dan games specially designed for that required before children can be purpose, within an enjoyable and introduced to traditional Aikido even pleasurable atmosphere. The European Birankai Shihankai training methods and techniques. If principle underlying this kind of Gabriel Valibouze 7th Dan, Birankai I understand correctly, “pre-Aikido” practice seems to be to draw out France training is designed for relatively the hidden potential already within Tony Cassells 7th Dan, British Birankai young children, ranging in age from each child, instead of forcing them Chris Mooney 7th Dan, British Birankai five to eight years or so. to learn from the outside. MIke Flynn 7th Dan, Scottish and In my opinion, however, this However, I am not sure at this Borders Birankai form of training does not neces- stage how the children’s program Norberto Chiesa 6th Dan, Birankai sarily have to be limited to those can be organically linked to the France ages. As the society in which we live concept of discipline unique to Dee Chen 6th Dan, British Birankai Daniel Brunner 6th Dan, Birankai becomes increasingly mechanized, martial arts training. In traditional Switzerland children have become increasingly training students are stressed, both Patrick Barthélémy 6th Dan, Birankai isolated from their natural envi- physically and mentally, to encoun- France ronment. This interferes with the ter adversity in situations, and learn Joe Curran 6th Dan, British Birankai development of their natural and to bear it without personal indul- instinctive physical and mental gence. These are vital elements Member Countries abilities in various ways, affecting that foster the spirit of endurance, Birankai Austria such things as coordination, reflex- challenge, focus, awareness, sense Birankai France es, awareness and balance, which of order and self-confidence, etc. Birankai Germany otherwise would develop more or Learning the skill is one thing; Hellenic Birankai less naturally through exposure to being in a situation as it arises and Birankai Israel the natural environment. living through it is another. Birankai Poland Furthermore, such things as diet If the ultimate objective in study- Birankai Portugal which, due to changing lifestyles, ing a martial art is to master the Birankai Switzerland British Birankai includes an excess of artificial foods skills, then the methods of study- Scottish and Borders Birankai of poor quality like fast foods and ing and teaching may be focused TV dinners, and a public education on the physical mastery of the art system which is inclined toward without necessarily involving the intellectual development, also affect other aspects of character develop- BE Musubi is published twice the development of children. As ment. This approach to training annually in May and November. English edition available on a consequence of these trends there is goal-oriented, and training www.britishbirankai.com and seem to be more and more children becomes a means to achieve or the French edition on who lack the natural development accomplish an objective. It is not, www.birankai.eu/shiun_fr.html of their physical abilities which however, true to the discipline might otherwise be expected at unique to martial arts, which their age. emphasizes the importance of just Individual article reflects the author’s What has interested and aston- being there, doing it. own views. All submissions may be ished me about these children’s The basic concept underlying edited due to space constraints and Aikido programs that have been recreation or sports activities in the should be sent to the Editors. developed, is that although the West can be seen as the re-creation children are under no pressure of man’s original activities, associ- Editor (English): Dee Chen [email protected] Editor (French): Jean-luc Busmey [email protected] Sub-editor: Wellington Tsang [email protected] Design Consultant: Franco Chen Photo: MilenaPhoto: Kremakova © Copyright 2018 All rights reserved. Reproduction is prohibited without express written permission 21062018 BB Summer School, Bangor, Aug 2008 2 BE MUSUBI MAY 2018 Photo: Franco Chen Franco Photo: Chiba Sensei, Demonstration, Warminster 1996 ated with his instinctive desire for dangerous to an immature body. cannot be found by comparing one continuous and positive develop- iii. Aikido requires high mental with another. The basic challenge ment within that society. The concentration and presence while of education is how to put light on elements considered undesirable executing forms repetitively, and the potential within an individual, for the well-being of society have children tend to get bored or lose and how to bring it out, without been systematically removed, interest. regard for time, destination or any and the basic spirit on which it iv. Aikido is too sophisticated predetermined judgments about its is founded is enjoyment and the and intellectual for children to quality. The only way to foster indi- notion of self-affirmation. learn. vidual dignity and self-confidence Although most martial arts I basically agree that all the points is to help a child become proud of originating in Japan have become mentioned above are obstacles to what she or he can be as an indi- sports, the development of learning the art; but I consider them vidual and to give them positive Japanese martial arts, along with to be positive, precisely as they recognition. We need to help them the development of Japanese are described. It is these aspects of understand that there is no such culture as a whole, somehow took training which make Aikido what thing as a failure or a loser in life, a different path from that of sports it is. There would not be much left except when we become a failure or in the West. I am not qualified to if we avoided them. Therefore we a loser in ourselves. Competition describe it in detail. However, its must not be afraid to present Aikido plants a sense of failing or losing basic concept is discipline, strongly to children with its basic structure in a child when she or he fails to supported by the notion of self- intact. While keeping in mind that achieve or accomplish something denial. Discipline in traditional all the points mentioned above are for which they are not suited while Japanese culture seeks and places potential obstacles, we have to place still young. importance on being here now, a positive light on them. Furthermore, it is undeniable finding “perfection” in practice, First, non-competitiveness is an that the influence of competition in rather than in achievement or essential value that Aikido can offer our lives causes us to regard work, accomplishment. to children. The answer to how we study and training as nothing but There seems to be an opinion focus in our training must be found a means to achieve or accomplish generally shared that Aikido within this value. Today’s society something, rather than as a way to is difficult for children for the already has an excess of competition seek personal growth towards our following reasons: in every aspect of life. The value of best potential. These activities can i. Because it is not competitive, life itself is predominantly under- be used to help us become aware of it is difficult to focus on training. stood in terms of winning, victory, the way we stand within each step ii. A number of techniques success, etc. that we take; to learn to be pure, are considered to be potentially The true value of individuals present and whole in every deed we MAY 2018 BE MUSUBI 3 perform in life. ple, by being struck by somebody’s Nevertheless, it is my observa- I am not totally against competi- flying body when taking ukemi, tion that American children, in tion if it is deemed necessary to and other so-called accidents.