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Our Children Deserve This

It’s a complex world we live in and our children need every bit of help. Whether it’s boosting confidence, enhancing focus, developing grit, or simply interacting with others, studying Aikido can help prepare our Young Warrior (ages 5 to 13) to be better people.

Maybe success to you means helping your child avoid being bullied or the pitfalls of too much social media. Maybe it’s the triumph of learning a new skill or simply helping them being a better person. Success comes in many styles and colors, and one size doesn’t fit all.

That’s a good thing and the true beauty of Aikido. We help our Young Warriors discover themselves through this martial art so they can be ready for the glorious adventure that lies ahead of them. There will be challenges and they will need help to win.

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About our Classes

Our children’s classes are designed to teach discipline, focus, awareness, self-control and self-defense. Children are taught that there are ways to deal with conflict without necessarily fighting. In response to a physical threat, Aikido teaches methods that work with the attack to defeat an aggressor using their own energy, in this way negating size, speed, and strength.

We strive to offer a fun and energetic, yet disciplined, environment where students learn cooperatively. We focus on breathing, balance, awareness, and posture to develop efficient ways of moving. Aikido related principles are incorporated into games and martial techniques. Students practice in pairs or small groups, taking turns being the attacker (called uke) and the defender (called nage). Most Aikido techniques finish with a throw, joint lock, or pin. Basic striking drills are also taught.

All of our children’s Aikido classes are taught by senior level black belt instructors with many years of teaching experience. The Aikido instructors at Aikido Association Atlanta are volunteers who joyfully seek to transmit the art of Aikido to a new generation of students.

Youth Classes:

Saturday mornings:

(Age 5-7) 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. (Mixed with Adult Class)

Tuesday, and Thursday evenings:

(Age 5-7) 5:15 - 5:50 p.m.

(Age 8 - 12) 6:00 - 6:50 p.m.

Our Youth Leaders

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Gifford Pace

Gifford began his martial art training in close-quarters police tactics under the supervision of Fred Burnside. He found Aikido in San Antonio and trained under Lac Tran during the late ’80. Upon his move to Memphis, his abilities and knowledge of Aikido and Kempo grew by working closely with Gary Chase. He would go on to be one of the founders of the Keishinkan dojo in Memphis, as well as run an Aikido class for Lausanne High School. He now has been training at Kyushinkan dojo in Atlanta since 2013. Gifford is a 3rd degree black belt.

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David Binder

I first started Aikido in 2011 at age 42. I am a qualified plan analyst who works from a home office, am married and have two teenage children. I first trained in Aikido to get myself out of the house, exercising, and for an activity I could share with my son. Now my training is more a drive to see what I can achieve and has taken on more of a community aspect with everyone at the dojo. I greatly enjoy the path aspect of aikido. There really is no final destination you can arrive at, however you continually move along the path as you progress in the art.

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Robin Johnson

Robin began Aikido training at Kyushinkan Dojo in 2008, with his two young sons. He has been active with the childrens program since 2009. Robin is a 2nd degree black belt.