InAIKIDO the children learn respect, discipline, patience, moving, falling and working with a partner.
They learn techniques (waza) from Kumite (touching hands), without real attacks. They learn how to execute a technique (tori) correctly and how to receive a technique (uke), by doing the exercises in harmony with their partner.
They also learn Aiki-uchi (a striking technique) and basic hitting (uchi) and blocking (uke) techniques in a game called Uchikomi-randori. An Uchi-kote (glove) is used to protect their hand during striking.
IAIDO, the art of drawing the sword like a SAMURAI. One of the exercises, the competition "BATTO SHIAI", is in today’s BUDO a very special and spectacular feature of Takeda-ryu Nakamura Ha. In that special exercise the opponents are facing each other at a larger distance, so their blades do not have contact. Referees are deciding whose cut was faster and more precise. So it is just a few steps distance which in competition decides over victory or defeat by points, like once it did decide over life and death.
Children are learning discipline and focus and learn to cope with stress.