Wait, isn’t Aikido a martial art or something? How could that be anything like circus arts?
It may seem hard to believe, but as a long-time circus parent and a practitioner of the martial art of Aikido for over a decade, let me try to convince you that if you like circus arts for your kid(s), you might enjoy Aikido for yourself.
The things I loved most about about circus arts for my kid was that it’s collaborative, cooperative, non-competitive, improvisational, and fun. Plus it’s a set of physical skills that can be adapted to a wide range of bodies.
All those things are true of Aikido. There are no competitions in Aikido. Nobody wins and nobody loses. We have partners instead of opponents. We work together to learn movements that allow us to face aggression in a way that ends a confrontation without anyone getting hurt. It’s really an approach that the world needs more of right now.
We don’t have clowns, and Aikido is (mostly) not meant to be funny. But it’s definitely fun. You’re solving puzzles with your body, and doing it in a low-pressure environment where everyone around you is learning, too. You will certainly hear laughter—sometimes it’s surprise that something amazing just happened and at other times we laugh at ourselves because this or that technique makes us feel like a klutz. If you don’t have a place in your life where it’s okay to try and fail, I highly recommend you find one—and Aikido is a great choice.
In Aikido, just like in circus arts, we train our balance, our sense of timing, our body awareness, and how to work with other people. We learn to fall down safely and get back up again efficiently. There are some parts of Aikido that can be mildly (or even very) acrobatic, but every person practices the version of Aikido that works for them, so if those bits aren’t for you, that’s fine.
It has been said that the goal of Aikido is to make yourself into someone that nobody wants to attack. Aikido training can help you stand tall and project more confidence, but that’s only part of the picture. It will also help you engage with tense situations in a way that’s oriented toward mutual safety and resolution rather than aggression. Some martial arts exist to help you win a fight. Aikido’s ultimate goal is that the fight never happens at all.
Aikido of Madison has been around for over 40 years on Madison’s east side and has produced generations of Aikido students who live all over the country and even around the world. We have classes in the early mornings, mid-day, and in the evenings, as well as on weekends. If you are interested in learning more, please visit AikidoOfMadison.com and contact us to arrange a visit to our dojo (which is Aikido-speak for our circus tent).
This post was authored by Scott Lynch, a long-time wild rumpus supporter, circus dad, and the creator of our amazing adjustable stilt-fleet! He is also a life-long practitioner of Aikido, and is on the board of Aikido of Madison.