Aikidaily is an enthusiastic supporter of homeschooling and other small-group activities. Because we share many of the core values of homeschooling, we seek out opportunities to include homeschooled children and teens in our programs. Individual homeschooled children and teens would be especially welcome to join our regularly scheduled public classes. Our mid morning class is geared towards homeschooled children aged 4-12.

Homeschool Classes

Our classes for homeschool family groups are brought together by their common parenting values and educational goals. Our curriculum and teaching approach is customized for each homeschool group in collaboration with the parents. We also ensure that the Aikido curriculum evolves with the group over time to match fully with the parents' developing objectives for each child and teen.

We strive to provide a learning environment that includes:

Self-paced, self-directed, non-competitive training, with opportunities to learn through discovery. We combine much individual attention with a flexible teaching approach to help each student learn in his or her own way. Aikido’s win/win training is always cooperative. Each partner helps the other to do his or her best throwing and falling.
We recognize children's stages of development and balance with age-appropriate learning.
Guided, Aikido-related play alongside traditional Aikido training to engage kids fully, help them internalize their Aikido technique, and build their overall physical competence.
Solid structure that underlies the surface of Aikido play. Aikidaily has a clearly defined curriculum for Aikido learning, physical competence building and personal development for every skill level and age group, 5 and up. The older the students, the more the instructor can facilitate traditional Aikido paired practice. For younger children, though, the instructor must artfully stimulate play that includes the basic elements of Aikido, as well as "capture" the children's own inventive play and shape it into Aikido skill building. As per-Aikido concepts "gel", traditional paired Aikido training emerges.
Everyone helps others train and shares in the life and work of our dojo ( training place and members ). This effort stimulates personal development and practical application of teamwork, leadership, initiative and creative problem solving skills. Working together reinforces our strong sense of community.

Size and structure of classes in a way that there are never more than 7 students per teacher.
Assess and adjust our teaching approach over time to match the emerging needs of the group and individual students.
Integrate Aikido training with the students' academic work, other physical activities, fine arts studies, and ongoing personal development.

Combining Aikido with a Homeschool Curriculum

For those who would like to weave the training into their overall curriculum, Aikido provides fertile ground to enhance the study of both academics and fine arts. The possibilities are boundless, with connections easily tailored to age groups and learning needs. For example:

Children and teens experience the physics of Aikido: Leverage, centrifugal force, and gravity (taking advantage of it and minimizing it as needed).
Life science study springs out of the physiology of Aikido: How the body works, develops and "remembers", and how one builds mind/body integration.
Win/win, cooperative Aikido training leads to the behavioral sciences and sociology: Aikido training is a physical expression of positive personal interactions that we can apply to the larger community for creative problem solving and negotiating.
The Japanese language and culture at the roots of Aikido are a springboard for exploration of all cultures, including those represented in our diverse dojo membership.
Key historical events throughout the 1900's drove the founder to invent Aikido and spread it worldwide.
For music students, effective Aikido movement, beautiful sound production and ensemble are all based on the same principles. Fine arts students can draw, paint and film Aikido, to capture the beauty of the flowing movements, enhance their own understanding of Aikido, and even create effective teaching materials for the other students.

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