ACV Kids on Aikido
Isabel Sullivan, Brown Belt
Aikido helps you in everyday life. For instance, it helps my balance in horseback
riding. You start to be more aware of movement around you. When you fall forward you
do a forward roll without thinking. I am glad I do Aikido.
Development
Blake Sullivan, Brown Belt
I have studied Aikido going on three years and it has become ingrained in me. I
feel Aikido is deep within me. Aikido has developed my reaction and my senses in
being aware of everyday life. I have learned a great deal from Sensei and also from
other students. We help eachother learn. Aikido has taught me and most likely other
students how to deal with stress and other hard situations. I have grown to find
that I use Aikido a lot but donŐt notice it because Aikido has developed deep within
me and I slowly evolve to realize it.
I want to thank my class as a whole and my fellow students as individuals for
their help. I want to thank my Sensei, Ben, for showing me Aikido. I have fun and
plan to keep studying for a long while. Aikido is a great thing and I encourage
others to join.
I was lying in bed late at night thinking about Aikido. I don't know why, but
suddenly I understood. I got up and wrote this down for I was afraid I would forget
my thoughts in the morning. I feel proud that I wrote down my feelings.
Getting My Bokken
Nicolas Hutt, Blue Belt
I asked my parents and Sensei if I could have a bokken. I wanted a
bokken because I like Japanese swords and Samurai. I want to practice and
learn how to use the bokken like Sensei.
When I got permission I saved up my money and ordered a bokken. Sensei
and my parents told me I had to be responsible and careful. I could practice on the
dojo mat or in my living room.
At home I sanded and oiled my bokken four times. My dad mixed mineral
spirits and linseed oil and put it on the bokken. I sanded it down after it
dried. The next step was to put on a tsuba that protects your hands. My dad
made the tsuba out of leather. Finally, I needed to make a case to protect
my bokken. We sewed fabric together to make it.
Someday I want to be very good at bokken. When I'm 13 years old I will be
able to join the adults class.
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