Children Are the Future of Aikido Dojos
An Interview with Ilka Flora about the Educational Program ‘Aikido for Kids and Youth Training’
Hello everybody!
I mentioned it before: I and three other teachers from our dojo visited Berlin in February. We had great fun participating in a weekend seminar for Aikido children teachers from the educational program called “Aikido for Kids and Youth Training”.
The program is created and organized by Kikentai Berlin Dojo with Ilka Flora and Axel Buksnowitz as great hosts.
It was for the first time we attended this program and I liked it so much that I wanted to know more about it. I asked Ilka several questions. Enjoy her answers combined with my personal reflections.
As we started on Saturday morning, I was surprised by the number of young teachers and assistants on tatami together with experienced senior teachers. There were three classes with topics focused on teaching children and youth led by three different teachers. In each class there was practice combined with lectures and in-depth discussions on the particular topic.
However, as everybody regardless of age and dan grade, could bring input to the flow, the atmosphere was friendly and playful while productive and professional.
Martin: Your program is one of the best things for Aikido children teachers I’ve seen so far. Why did you create it? What was your motivation and idea behind it?"
Ilka: Simply because children mean the future of our Aikido dojos! Without children’s training, our mats would age, our own development would stagnate or become an end in itself.
Since we founded our Dojo in 2007, there have always been a lot of children. I think that in other dojos there could also be a good number of kids because there is a demand for children's training. But not all Aikido teachers feel capable of teaching children.
Also, I’m a mother of two children (*2007, *2010) so I am doubly motivated. I think teaching Aikido to children offers a chance to grow into a harmonious and peaceful world together.
(Video: A great class by Martina Loos from Aikido School Athens on “New Games, Cooperations Games and Social Competences”. Video by Ilka.)
Martin: I really enjoyed the practical takeaways from the classes, often rooted in solid pedagogy, developmental psychology, or physical education. I think this is what teachers of children need and what can enrich the Aikido community.
Ilka: Teaching children could be challenging, and that’s where I find its potential. Children are not „small adults“ — teaching children is very different from teaching adults. Additionally, it has to be adapted to a certain age. So I’ve always kept myself inspired and open to learn more, happy and curious to connect and exchange with others.
On the other hand, some Aikidokas willing to build up kids classes were coming to us to hospitate, to assist in a class, and sometimes to take over a class for a while. Some are running their own dojo’s now. Somehow, our dojo’s approach inspired others, which is great!
Because of these experiences, and those during the pandemic, and also the limited time in a busy life as dojo leaders and family-heads, there was a wish to create a program which bundles up the needs and opportunities.
Martin: At some point in the seminar, I had the feeling that you created a platform for sharing good practices and experimenting. During our lunch break, I saw young Aikidokas in their twenties seriously discussing stuff with sixth dan seniors. Was this intentional?
Ilka: The idea was to create something which combines chances and needs for myself, our dojo and the Aikido community.
The kids-sensei-program is many things at once. It provides:
— Network: that invites Aikidokas, young teachers or assistants, and senior teachers to connect with each other
— Open space: for coming together, exchanging and learning, for research and inspiration, to share and to discuss
— Pathway of education: where we can get inspired and inspire others to engage in children's training,
— Guided and supervised personal development, powered by the mentors
— Support for young Aikidokas, who want to become children’s teachers (funded by the Budo-foundation Anita Köhler)
We were four teachers from our Prague’s dojo in Berlin, two senior teachers and two junior teachers in their twenties, all of us working with children and/or teenagers. At the seminar, we met old friends and also created new connections. We worked a lot with teachers and assistants from other dojos, practicing together, talking, having fun on and off the classes. On the way home, we had a debriefing, reflecting on the tons of new inspiration. Later we had a teachers’ gathering in our dojo, where we shared highlights with other teachers. Looking back, since then we have integrated a lot of ideas and tools from the seminar into our training for children and youth. And we are planning to go to Berlin again for more.
(Video: I was honored to lead a sample class and discussion on topic “Growing up in the Dojo: Aikido with Teenagers” in February. Video by Ilka.)
Martin: I can imagine how much work it is to organize such a program. What does it bring to you and to your dojo?
Ilka: So, for me, it brings a lot of joy and inspiration, connection through valuable feedback, empowerment through meaningful creation. Our dojo, and hopefully all other participating dojos, gain by
getting inspiration from motivated and skillful teachers, and
the growth of new, powerful kids-teachers.
Generally, this program also contributes to the Aikido community because thanks to it, we’ll encounter more youngsters on the mat in the future!
Martin: Talking about the future, what are your plans with the “Aikido for Kids and Youth” program?
Ilka: Well, the program is a young one 😀; it started in 2023. So, for the moment, I am happy that it brings so many like-minded people together!
As I mentioned before, our main vision is to make Aikido more attractive for the youngsters, in a way that they will continue as adults, maybe becoming teachers themselves… Therefore, we need creative and young teachers to inspire them! Regarding the educational part of the program, I would be more than happy to see the future graduates enriching the network as teachers. I see an amazing potential for the elderly to grow together with the younger.
Martin: Good luck with all that! And thank you for this talk!
About “Aikido for Kids and Youth Training”
The educational program “Aikido for Kids and Youth Training” has been running since 2023.
Each year, there are three weekend workshops/seminars, and each one includes three different modules/topics. A module consists of Aikido practice, a theoretical part, and discussion.
The topics and their teachers are announced in advance, and participants can choose workshops on an ad-hoc basis.
It’s also possible to take the program as ongoing education, with additional guidance and supervision between workshops.
Young teachers receive a 50% discount, funded by the Budo Foundation Anita Köhler.
For more see the program description in PDF.
If you’re interested in trying out the concept, the next workshop will take place in a countryside dojo near Berlin this June:
6th Workshop Aikido for Kids and Youth Training
June 27th-29th 2025
Land-Dojo Horst Späthling, Fergitz (Uckermark)
Modules:
Inspiring physical education: Creating/perceiving contact & moving together in space (Martin Svihla / Aikido Vinohrady Prague)
Disruptions welcome: special needs & creative teaching (Ishlar Smolny / Dachoyama Aikido Strausberg)
Outside the Dojo: Inspiring others by Aikido-communication (Axel Buksnowitz / Kikentai. Berlin)
Detail information:
For more info contact Ilka at kids@kikentai.berlin
Sounds amazing - what is the language of instruction for the program?