Pedagogy

Topics to be covered:

Structuring Classes Effectively   Developmental Learning  Games, games, games  Ukemi without the “ouch”   Teaching Advanced Techniques   Integrating Weapons Practice   Tribal Teens   Codes of conduct   Working in the schools   Randori for Everyone   Teaching Focus

Make your classes more dynamic and effective! Join us as we exchange ideas and learn from collective experience. Formal presentations will be supplemented by moderated discussions, brainstorming, a resource notebook, networking opportunities with skilled instructors, and two classes with kids!

Want more information? Go to www.gashuku.net for more info or contact Aviv Sensei at 1.540.455.3378 or via email at aviv@aikidoinn.com   Organized by Aikido in Fredericksburg * with support from Aikidokids.com, and Aiki-Extensions. The flyer version can be found at:   http://www.gashuku.net/Kenshukai2008.pdf

TENTATIVE PROGRAM

Friday

6:30-8:15P         Adult Aikido at Aikido of Berkeley

Seminar participants are invited to join the regular adult class at Aikido of Berkeley, taught by Dojo Cho Kayla Feder Sensei, 6th dan.

Saturday

9:30A Registration Opens

Please enter quietly during "Aiki-Mites" class for ages 3 - 6.

10:00-10:40A   Amazing Things Can Happen in Kids Class with Michael Friedl

Michael Sensei was a Karate instructor when he first encountered Aikido in 1972.  He was surprised by the power behind the self defensive art and redirected his studies.  In 1994 Michael Sensei moved to Oregon and started Aikido in Ashland.  Aikido in Ashland offers classes for all ages and has an enrollment of about 60 in its children, youth and teen classes.  Michael Sensei is sensitive to the different interpretations of The Art of Peace in his fellow teachers and students.   Michael Sensei will teach part 1 of a class with children ages 5 – 12.  Seminar participants can either participate or observe the class, at your own election.

10:50-11:30A   How to Teach Focus and Make it Fun! For Kids with Bill Gray

Bill Gray has been teaching Aikido to kids for more than 10 years. His Redmond, WA dojo features a separate program for children where enrollment typically exceeds 100 students. The Children’s Academy is based on the belief that a fun, stress free, positive, non-competitive environment encourages learning and confidence. In this seminar, Bill Sensei shares his insights on teaching 4-12 year olds.  He shows how kid’s natural tendencies for questioning and imagination can be used in the study of Aikido.  He shares games that foster focus and respect both in and out of Aikido class.  Bill Sensei will teach part 2 of a class with children ages 5 – 12.  Seminar participants can either participate or observe the class, at your own election.

11:45-12:25P    Kids Class Redux moderated by Aviv Goldsmith

This is your chance to share thoughts, questions, and personal experiences relevant to the morning’s classes.  What worked in the classes?  Did any light bulbs go on for you? What techniques can you adopt in your own program?  What would you have done differently? Seminar host, Aviv Goldsmith moderates.  

12:25-1:10P      Working Lunch

Seminar host Aviv Goldsmith will moderate discussion on subjects that you care about.  Please answer the questions on the registration form and submit them with your registration.  Aviv Sensei will use this information to guide the discussion agenda.  A simple lunch will be provided.  Your assistance in set-up and clean-up is appreciated.

Saturday, Continued

1:10-1:55P        Helping Kids Reach Their Potential with Melissa Fisher & Pete Wilkins

Melissa Sensei and Pete Sensei teach a variety of classes at Tenzan Aikido in Seattle, WA, including pre-school, ages 6 & up, and Parent/Child Aikido.  Before focusing on Aikido, they studied a variety of martial arts and dance.  In their program, yoga and Brazilian jiu-jitsu are integrated into Aikido training in a way that helps children reach their unique potential.  The goal is to recognize the interconnected physical, emotional, and social dimensions unique to each child and use Aikido to help develop individual potential.

2:00-3:00P        Randori for Everyone with Lisa Smith-Rice

Even free-style training needs ground rules.  In this seminar, Lisa Smith-Rice shares some secrets to structure jiyuwaza that work well with her 5 year olds and up class.  She will present the three rules of surviving randori, the ten principals of successful randori, three most successful aikido techniques applied to randori, and drill and games modified for randori all with the goal of creating the most effective learning experience.  Wow, all that in one hour!

3:10-3:40P        Verbal Aikido with Aviv Goldsmith

Children frequently ask when is the right time to apply Aikido techniques outside of the dojo.  Aviv Sensei will demonstrate practices that teachers can use to educate students about avoiding physical confrontations.  Aviv Sensei has a variety of experience with Aikido for the young, beginning with his own introduction to training as a teen.  He has been teaching Aikido since 1989 and became Dojo Cho of the non-profit Aikido in Fredericksburg in 2001, where he teaches students of all ages.  Since the first Aiki Kodomo Kenshukai, the children’s program at Aikido in Fredericksburg has been frequently sold out!

3:45-4:45P        Kaeshiwaza of Teaching and Learning with Ross Robertson

Ross Robertson founded Still Point Aikido in 1991 with the philosophy that students are participants in a mutual learning process.  In this session Ross Sensei applies this belief to the teaching of 6-12 year olds.  He offers support to teachers who want to let children self direct more of the class process.  He shares his experiences of the rewards of taking this approach to teaching.

4:50                     Daily Wrap-up with Aviv Goldsmith

Sunday, October 5

9:00-9:40A       How to Teach Focus and Make it Fun! For Teens With Bill Gray

In this class, Bill Sensei’s imaging and questioning is applied to kids 10 and up.  Many of Bill Sensei’s teen students have developed the focus and technique to graduate to the dan ranks.  Bill Sensei will also discuss the value of an instructor’s program for children’s class.  Bill Sensei will teach the first half of a class with kids ages 12 and up.

9:50-10:30A     Teaching Tribal Teens with Robert Kent

Rob Sensei began his Aikido training in Kyoto in 1984.  He joined Aikido West in 1991 and inherited leadership of the children’s program in 2001.  The teen’s classes at Aikido West are technique centered incorporating Aikido skills, physical skills, discipline, and games.  Senior students are invited to learn by helping the younger class and parents are encouraged to train with their kids. Rob Sensei will teach the second half of a class with kids ages 12 and up.

10:45-11:25A   Teens Class Redux moderated by Robert Kent

Robert Kent is the founder of Aikidokids.com, an online community for Aikido teachers and the kids they teach.  He runs the youth program at Aikido West in Redwood City, CA.  He has been working with young teenagers for over 25 years.  Rob Sensei will guide our discussion as we digest this mornings classes and the lessons learned.

11:25-12:10P    Developmental Learning with Donna Pienkowski

While we are spending time learning how to teach Aikido to children, we will also spend some time exploring how children learn and grow.  We will focus on several developmental stages and theories using dojo examples to better understand our growing audience, their capabilities, their challenges, and the opportunities we have as teachers and role models. Donna Pienkowski, a licensed middle school teacher, has thirteen years of experience in the classroom including several years as a Special Education teacher and several years teaching adults.  She received her 5th kyu while in Iwama, Japan (ask her for details) and was awarded the rank of nidan in April 2007.  She assists with the children and youth programs at Aikido in Fredericksburg.

12:10-1:00P      Working Lunch

Seminar host Aviv Goldsmith will moderate discussion on subjects that you care about.  Please answer the questions on the registration form and submit them with your registration.  Aviv Sensei will use this information to guide the discussion agenda.  A simple lunch will be provided.  Your assistance in set-up and clean-up is appreciated.

1:05-1:40P        Martial Play with Alex Vanderburgh

Alex is a 3rd dan instructor who has worked with kids for nine years.  He currently teaches the childrens summer program at Aikido West.  His game-centric approach to Aikido is flexible enough to apply to kids in grades k-8.  The goal of Martial Play is to help develop students’ emotional intelligence.  Aikido, Karate, Kempo, Jiu-jitsu, Kobundo and Kung Fu are combined into a physical program, but the lessons are in self respect and non-violent conflict resolution.  Martial Play breaks with the tradition of linear and hierarchical martial arts training and focuses instead on creating a physically and emotionally safe environment for practice.

1:45-2:30P        Aikido as a Tool for Social Transformation with Jose Bueno

José Bueno Sensei, 4th dan (Aikikai), has practiced Aikido for 24years. In 1994 he left his job as a successful architect to become a full-time Aikido instructor in his own dojo and in several projects off-mat. In 2003, he founded Acão Harmonia Brasil (Harmony in Action Brazil) which teaches Aikido to disadvantaged children in the favelas of São Paulo, offering them an alternative to the endemic violent conflicts of their world. Some of these children have become regular students in his dojo and now assist Bueno Sensei at leadership training seminars, where he teaches the principles of Aikido to top executives from throughout South America. He will share his philosophy and techniques and will screen Harmony in Action, a recently completed 10-minute documentary about his latest project.

2:30-3:00P        Weekend Wrap-up with Aviv Goldsmith

Aviv Sensei will guide our last discussion of the weekend focusing on what we’ve learned and how we can implement in our own dojos.