AikiKids (Mt Barker) is a Martial Arts club located in Mount Barker, South Australia. They specialise in teaching Aikido, a modern martial art that focuses on neutralising attacks without causing harm to the opponent. The club offers classes for children, teenagers, and adults, promoting discipline, respect, and personal development.
AikiKids believes in providing a non-violent alternative in martial arts training, ensuring that children's growing bodies are not subjected to techniques that may cause damage. Their classes emphasise that being strong does not equate to being a bully, and there is no competition in Aikido. The true opponent is ourselves, reflecting the philosophy of Budo (way of the warrior).
For children, Aikido is a particularly effective self-defence choice as its techniques do not rely on physical strength. The AikiKids syllabus focuses on effectively neutralising strikes, escaping grabs and holds, without involving joint locking techniques that may be harmful to developing bodies. Through AikiKids, children also develop coordination, balance, flexibility, and general muscle tone. The dojo environment encourages humility, self-respect, and respect for others, while periods of quiet and stillness teach self-discipline.
AikiKids recognises that children have a lot of energy to express, and their classes are designed to accommodate this. The combination of fun physical activities and periods of calm and focus leaves the kids feeling relaxed and fulfilled. Aikido practise aims to increase confidence, strengthen physically and mentally, and continually challenge oneself.
The club also offers a specialised Red Belt programme for teenagers. The classes provide a higher level of physical training in a safe and respectful environment, allowing teens to challenge themselves and build positive relationships. Red Belt students are encouraged to act as mentors to younger students, providing them with opportunities to develop leadership skills such as responsibility, accountability, and compassion.
Anyone interested in trying Aikido at AikiKids is welcome to contact the Head Instructor, Peter Noble, through phone or email to arrange a visit or participate in a class. The club also has an online community on Facebook, where members can connect and stay updated. The location and class times are provided on their website, as well as the fee structure.
AikiKids (Mt Barker) is a registered provider, enabling families to claim $100 per child aged 5 to 15 years towards member fees. The club is an initiative of the Adelaide Takemusu Aikido Club Inc. , a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to promoting the practise of Takemusu Aikido. Adelaide Takemusu Aikido Club Inc.
is proudly run as a not-for-profit association, and they are a proud member dojo of the Australian Takemusu Aikido Renmei Inc.