• Aikido has helped me- By Jacob Gannon
• How Has Aikido Helped Me- By Charles Hussong
• How Aikido will help me in the future- By Ian
• How Aikido will help me in the future- By Hendrik
• How Aikido Helps Me- By Ian
• How Aikido will serve me in the future- By Nathalie
• How Aikido has helped me- By Kyle
• Children In Aikido- By John Dore, Instructor

Aikido has helped me by gaining a better sense of self-discipline and control. It has also helped me by learning how to defend myself to a certain degree without beating an opponent up or going too gentle with them. I believe that Aikido also has helped me have a positive mental attitude by setting my mind to attaining a goal.

In the relatively short time I've been practicing Aikido it has helped me in several important ways. For one, it helps keep me physically fit, and sharpens my reflexes. It helps keep my mind focused and calm. It helps by building my confidence that I'll be ready. And of course, it's fun to learn.

My oportunities to apply the techniques of Aikido to the outside world have not been frequent. This, however, unlike in the cases of most things, is good. Aikido is one of those skills you want to know but not have to use.

Of course, Aikido teaches much more than just the techniques, and from these other things I have benefitted the most. For example, from Aikido I have learned to move more fluidly and to be aware at all times.

I expect that Aikido will continue to help me in life as long as I continue practicing, which I think will be a long time. Aikido is more than just a set of ways to flip people onto the ground, it's a guiding light on the path through life. I plan to continue following this light as long as I am able.

It will help my awareness, because if someone attacks me, I would do a move on that someone. The likelihood of this happening is almost zero. Aikido will help my balance. Balance will help me in baseball, football, and other sports, and I hope this will keep on happening. Aikido will also help me to work with others.

This is how Aikido will help me in the future. One reason is that in class you have to pay attention because if you don't, you don't know what's going on or going to happen to you. You should also always pay attention everywhere in life. In aikido you learn to respect people. You will always need to respect people in life. In aikido you learn to be a good partner, which will evolve into a good person in life. Another reason why aikido will help you is that you will know how to defend yourself when people attack you.

Aikido is not just about doing nikkyo on others. It is truly nice to be able to control my thoughts and body. For instance, I used to get very angry, now I don't get mad at people quite as often. Another way that aikido helps me is that it makes me more aware of my surroundings. These are some of the ways that aikido helps me.

There are many ways that Aikido has helped me, but I always wonder what will happen when I can finally put my skills to the test. I mean, I have had to defend myself aginst a couple of jerks at school dances who try to dance with me (tenkan getaway sure comes in handy), but that's it. When someone comes up to me with a knife or comes up to me from behind and tries to choke me, that's when I'll have to defend myself with moves that will hurt them - badly.

I also like to think that I am beginning to develop that "sixth sense" that Sensei Dirk talked about in class. Hopefully, my "sixth sense" will have developed fully by the time when I have to defend myself really well, so I can know that there's someone behind me without even turning around.

I am very glad that I chose to take Aikido over other martial arts because Aikido isn't all about fighting back just the way that the attacker fought you. It's about being aware of your surroundings and learning moves that will hurt them enough just so you can get away and be safe.

Thank you for taking the time to read my essay.

I learned to get out of the way, when someone attacks me. And aikido has helped me to pay attention. Aikido has helped me to interact better with others. Aikido has helped me to stay in shape by exercising. By doing stretches it helps me to not get hurt.

A dozen students from age 6 to 14 sit at the edge of the mat in traditional seiza. The Children's Aikido class is about to begin. Each student stretches to align their posture. Each strives to demonstrate that they are a serious student. Each is enthusiastic and ready to learn. They have come to learn self-defense, to get strong and powerful, to see friends, and to have fun. The instructor sits with them and considers what to teach. What is important for them to learn?

The students will be offered training in self-defense. They will learn how to throw an opponent to the ground. They will learn how to disable an attacker safely without causing injury. They will learn how to protect their body. The techniques and exercises will challenge them physically. Their body will grow stronger. Their flexibility, grace, and stamina will improve. The training offers more value than only improved fitness however. It offers a remarkable psychological benefit. The training helps build self-confidence. Moreover it helps them to learn how to safely deal with confrontation and conflict.

Aikido offers unique ways to manage conflict and control attacks. The student learns not to rely solely on their own strength to defend themselves and overcome the attack. Instead, Aikido teaches the student to redirect the attacker's force back against the attacker. This is the most beneficial skill Aikido has to offer anyone: child or adult. For a child, this can be a most practical skill. Children and young adults deal with more direct conflict day in and day out than do most adults. Consider the interactions any child faces in the course of a typical school day. The skill to manage conflict can be extremely useful in that environment.

Aikido students typically improve their self-confidence tremendously. The student learns new physical capabilities and strengths. They learn new ways to move. The dojo provides them with a safe place to grow their skills without concern for failure. Through repetition the student's skill improves. They soon begin to feel mastery of techniques which they could not perform just a short while ago. This confidence does not stay confined to only the student's Aikido training. It starts to seep into other areas of their life and begins to grow there too. Confidence provides the child or young adult with a strong foundation on which they can grow. The aim is not to build a confident Aikidoka but a confident maturing person.

Some time ago Sarah joined our class as a new student. She was the most meek nine year old girl that I had ever met. I don't think that she spoke any words during class for the first two months. She approached every technique apprehensively. Over time her confidence improved and so did her voice. Last week I observed her helping a new student to understand what to do. The newcomer was bigger than Sarah and older that she was too but the formerly meek Sarah was guiding him on what to do and how to move. I could hear her voice from all the way on the other side of the mat. I could not have been more pleased. Will she be a black belt someday? I don't know, that is not important. Will she be a confident person? Yes, without question!

Studying Aikido is challenging and fun. Hard work pays off in many ways.