Today, our Year 3 children had the exciting opportunity to take part in an Aikido taster session—and what a fantastic experience it was!
Aikido, a modern Japanese martial art, focuses on balance, calmness and using movement rather than strength. From the moment the session began, the children were fully engaged, curious, and eager to learn something new.
What We Learned
The instructor began by introducing the idea of respect—an important value in martial arts. The children practised bowing, listening carefully, and working safely with a partner. They were brilliant at demonstrating focus!
The group explored:
- Basic stances and posture
- Simple movement and footwork drills
- Balance and coordination exercises
- Safe, gentle techniques that build confidence rather than strength
It was wonderful to see every child giving their best effort. Many commented on how “calm but powerful” the movements felt, and several discovered skills they didn’t know they had!
Building Confidence and Self‑Control
Aikido is not about fighting—it’s about learning to stay centred, make good choices, and move with control. We were particularly impressed with how quickly the children adapted to:
- Controlling their bodies and their space
- Supporting one another in partner activities
- Showing resilience when learning new techniques
These qualities link beautifully with our school values and the learning behaviours we promote in Year 3.
A Big Thank You!
We’d like to extend a huge thank‑you to our visiting instructor for delivering such an enjoyable and engaging session, and to the children for participating with such enthusiasm and respect.
We’d like to extend a huge thank‑you to our visiting instructor for delivering such an enjoyable and engaging session, and to the children for participating with such enthusiasm and respect.
