Why children should practice Martial Arts

More than 6 million children in the United States participate in martial arts. Martial arts are known to improve social skills, discipline, and respect in children. Children can also improve their abilities to concentrate and focus on activities, as well as bettering their motor skills and self-confidence. Martial arts can be fun and beneficial at any age.

Skills like empathy, responsibility, and self-discipline are not innate, they need to be taught.

For children whose brains are still maturing, it can be hard to learn and develop these behaviors, so they come with practice and age. Martial art is a useful way to train children in how to have self-discipline, as well as many other behavioral skills that will serve them well in life.

Something to think about…

Aikido with Ki

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people will not feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

– Marianne Williamson

Congratulations on Belt Promotions!

Congratulations – all students who participated in Winter 2013 Belt Testing were successful in attaining higher belts!

The following students have advanced:

Winter 2013 Pre-Test Practice Schedule

Winter 2013 Pre-Test Practices

 Get prepared for the Aikido test
Earn class credit
Get one-on-one instruction

Pre-test practices are an integral part of our training!

Pre-test practice fee $10 each session

Aikido Turns Conflict on its Head

For 60 years, American practitioners have given up the fight.

Growing up in a tough neighborhood of Kansas City, Kansas, Andrew LeBar learned from an early age to hold his own. When someone pushed him, he pushed back.

“I had hard eyes,” recalls LeBar, who still carries the stance of a bulldog and has the square jaw to match. “If you look like a victim, you’re going to be taken advantage of.”

Heading back to school at the University of Kansas in his 30s, LeBar decided to try aikido, a Japanese martial art, thinking he might pick up some self-defense techniques. At first he was intrigued by the group’s teacher—a “little old Japanese man.” LeBar had never seen anyone move with such grace or agility.

Then the sensei began to speak, and LeBar felt his foundation shift.

“It was about dealing with someone’s direction or force in a peaceful way—taking that energy and changing it.”

SB Fair and Expo Exhibition a Success!

April 23rd and 25th the Aikido students from Goleta Cultural School and Sensei’s dance students from UCSB put on a great exhibition for attendees at the Earl Warren Showground’s SB Fair and Expo. Many thanks to everyone who helped put this two gig event on. There were many little tasks that all rolled up to make a great show. Names and photos to follow.