As well as increasing fitness and co-ordination, training Aikido helps children develop and practice a wide range of transferable skills. The opinion we have at the Shudokan is that what you learn in the dojo should  be something your child can take outside into their every day lives, not just an entertaining co-curricular activity. Social skills, confidence, discipline, focus, conflict resolution, resilience, respect, team work, leadership and communication skills are developed through our children's program. These are not skills children are born with or can learn in an academic sense by simply reading or talking about them. Our children's martial art program provides an opportunity to learn about and practice these skills in a practical setting through Aikido training, under the watchful and supportive eye of our dedicated instructors.  

co-operation and friendship across all ages
While it might seem surprising that learning a martial art can actually improve team work and co-operation skills, it's definitely something our parents notice a marked improvement in. All children train together in our children's classes, regardless of age, rank or ability, providing an opportunity for the development of leadership capabilities, patience and friendship across all ages. There are always a number of quality assistants and well-trained passionate instructors on the mats, allowing beginners to get hands on attention and seniors to be extended and challenged when appropriate.