My husband and I have always been quite adamant advocates of resolution of conflict through the use of constructive verbal communication.  Alas, the world is not always responsive to that ideal.

Our 6 year old son recently has experienced several incidents in school where bullying was involved.  Fortunately, none of those incidents were serious, nevertheless, he came to us and asked if we could teach him how not to feel so, in his words, "helpless".

Besides being thoughtful and empathetic, our son also tends to avoid conflict and competition, so karate, tae kwon do, and silat are out.  My husband suggested aikido because of it's philosophy of defense.  We eventually made list and checked out the dojos.

When we finally visited Aiki Zenshin, we instantly noticed the absence of trophies.  Non-competition driven, check.  We stepped into the tatami room, and were instantly greeted with not a combative athletic studio, but a large, clean, and quiet place of reflection.  Calming peace, check.  Except for the occasional cooing of several doves, the utter silence almost compels you to forget the days worries and just exist.

I have been training at the Aiki Zenshin Dojo since I was 8 years old, starting in the kids' class, moving to the teens', and then to the adults' & all-levels training. The community at the dojo is fantastic: everyone is very friendly, welcoming, and eager to help each other learn. The atmosphere of the dojo is very relaxed and peaceful, and when combined with training in the classes and the harmonious nature of Aikido, I have found it to make for a perfect place to 'recover' and unwind from a long hard day at work or school.

I can't even begin to fully express how much training here has enriched my life. I went through the classic "traumatic Jr High School years," and aikido at the Aiki Zenshin Dojo played an incredibly significant part in helping me to regain and keep my confidence in myself. It has also helped me learn to focus better, keep self discipline, and have patience with myself and others. The movements and concepts taught in aikido I find to be very relevant in day to day life as well, and I know that the experiences this dojo has given me have made me far more relaxed and in-tune with my life and the world around me.

One last note to think about... Being someone who works hunched over a computer all day long (with assuredly terrible posture), I've found I have far fewer wrist problems than many others I know. This may be a total fluke, but I can't help but attribute at least some of it to having done the wrist stretches and exercises at the dojo several times a week for the past 16 years. :)

Our son has been taking classes at the dojo for several years now (Elementary, Middle School, now High School). We observed he has learned a lot, including discipline, respect and leadership. We are so happy with the program we started sending our daughter there a couple of years ago. Sunny Sensei is the best instructor for teenagers and young children I have met. Glad to hear that the dojo will stay open during summer. It'll be great if parents will consider this program as part of their children's summer activities.