Safety

In the movies, the practice of martial arts seems driven by a "macho" attitude -- indifference to pain and risk seems to be valued. This is less true today than in the past; it is less true in the US than in other countries; and it is less true in Aikido than in other martial arts. Compared to other martial arts, Aikido is unique in several ways, including an emphasis on non-violence and self-control. Nevertheless, it is wise to look at what could happen during practice and what measures we take at Aikido of Owensboro for your safety and comfort.

Any physical activity you engage in carries the risk of injury. Common sports like football and basketball produce many injuries; even golf and bowling are not free of such risk -- it's a matter of probability. You can reduce the risk of injury, but you can never get rid of it entirely. The way you reduce this risk is by following sensible guidelines when practicing, such as warm-ups, knowing your limits, identifying and avoiding dangerous actions, and cooperating with the others you train with. While competition is essential to sports and to combat, it is contrary to the principles of Aikido, hence there is little incentive to engage in hurtful actions.

The practice of Aikido includes activities which involve some risk. While training with a partner, you defend against all manner of attacks, you deliver attacks so your partner can practice defending, you frequently lose your balance and fall toward the mat, and you wield and defend against weapons (eg., staff, sword, and knife), In addition, you may be be vulnerable due to an existing injury, a handicap, your size, your fitness level, an unwillingness to follow instruction, or an over-eager or aggressive attitude.

At Aikido of Owensboro, we stress safety. Every Aikido technique has the potential to be applied safely or dangerously, and no one should attempt to practice it without receiving clear guidance regarding how to do so correctly. We constantly stress the points in each technique which are relevant to safe practice, such as angle, direction, speed, contact, relationship to others on the mat, lightness of touch, balance, handling a fall, sudden moves, stress on joints, excessive force, and many other factors. We teach every student to start slowly, to observe your limits, to recognize that pain is a signal that something is wrong, to communicate with your partner about safety and comfort, to maintain a cooperative attitude, to observe proper hygiene, and to develop the skills necessary to receive the application of an Aikido technique without incurring injury.

This last point deserves some emphasis. The defensive strategy of Aikido is to cause the attacker to become unbalanced and to fall down, or at least to become immobilized in a pin. In the real world, such a fall would be painful and probably injurious. In Aikido classes, we want to be able to throw our partners without pain or injury -- otherwise, they would not be able to continue practicing or at least would prefer not to! Aikido solves this problem by practicing on mats, which soften the impact of the fall; and by teaching ukemi, the art of receiving the action of an Aikido defense gracefully and comfortably. Like the rolls in gymnastics and the falls in Judo, this training makes it possible for students to practice over and over again, while remaining in control of their own comfort level.

When you practice with us, we require that you sign a liability release. This is a common practice; it is something you are usually asked to do before going on a field trip at school, or joining a swim club, or traveling on an airplane. A release helps keep costs low, reduces unnecessary litigation, discourages fraud, and protects innocent people. It also informs you officially that there are risks and that you must take responsibility for accepting them if you wish to participate. It is possible to be killed or maimed while skydiving, while crossing the street, and , yes, while practicing Aikido. But all of us at Aikido of Owensboro believe the odds are in our favor, and we choose to enjoy the pleasures and benefits of practice -- any good Aikido instructor will encourage you to do this. We invite you to observe our classes anytime and to ask us about our safety practices. Our chief instructor is an attorney with extensive experience in personal injury cases. He knows the importance of safety and insists upon reasonable practice at all times.


	Is it safe to practice Aikido? In the movies, the practice of martial arts seems driven by a "macho" attitude -- indifference to pain and risk seems to be valued. This is less true today than in the past; it is less true in the US than in other countries; and it is less true in Aikido than in other martial arts. Compared to other martial arts, Aikido is unique in several ways, including an emphasis on non-violence and self-control. Nevertheless, it is wise to look at what could happen during practice and what measures we take at Aikido of Owensboro for your safety and comfort. Risk in athletics Any physical activity you engage in carries the risk of injury. Common sports like football and basketball produce many injuries; even golf and bowling are not free of such risk -- it's a matter of probability. You can reduce the risk of injury, but you can never get rid of it entirely. The way you reduce this risk is by following sensible guidelines when practicing, such as warm-ups, knowing your limits, identifying and avoiding dangerous actions, and cooperating with the others you train with. While competition is essential to sports and to combat, it is contrary to the principles of Aikido, hence there is little incentive to engage in hurtful actions. Risk in Aikido The practice of Aikido includes activities which involve some risk. While training with a partner, you defend against all manner of attacks, you deliver attacks so your partner can practice defending, you frequently lose your balance and fall toward the mat, and you wield and defend against weapons (eg., staff, sword, and knife), In addition, you may be be vulnerable due to an existing injury, a handicap, your size, your fitness level, an unwillingness to follow instruction, or an over-eager or aggressive attitude. At Aikido of Owensboro, we stress safety. Every Aikido technique has the potential to be applied safely or dangerously, and no one should attempt to practice it without receiving clear guidance regarding how to do so correctly. We constantly stress the points in each technique which are relevant to safe practice, such as angle, direction, speed, contact, relationship to others on the mat, lightness of touch, balance, handling a fall, sudden moves, stress on joints, excessive force, and many other factors. We teach every student to start slowly, to observe your limits, to recognize that pain is a signal that something is wrong, to communicate with your partner about safety and comfort, to maintain a cooperative attitude, to observe proper hygiene, and to develop the skills necessary to receive the application of an Aikido technique without incurring injury. This last point deserves some emphasis. The defensive strategy of Aikido is to cause the attacker to become unbalanced and to fall down, or at least to become immobilized in a pin. In the real world, such a fall would be painful and probably injurious. In Aikido classes, we want to be able to throw our partners without pain or injury -- otherwise, they would not be able to continue practicing or at least would prefer not to! Aikido solves this problem by practicing on mats, which soften the impact of the fall; and by teaching ukemi, the art of receiving the action of an Aikido defense gracefully and comfortably. Like the rolls in gymnastics and the falls in Judo, this training makes it possible for students to practice over and over again, while remaining in control of their own comfort level. Liability When you practice with us, we require that you sign a liability release. This is a common practice; it is something you are usually asked to do before going on a field trip at school, or joining a swim club, or traveling on an airplane. A release helps keep costs low, reduces unnecessary litigation, discourages fraud, and protects innocent people. It also informs you officially that there are risks and that you must take responsibility for accepting them if you wish to participate. It is possible to be killed or maimed while skydiving, while crossing the street, and , yes, while practicing Aikido. But all of us at Aikido of Owensboro believe the odds are in our favor, and we choose to enjoy the pleasures and benefits of practice -- any good Aikido instructor will encourage you to do this. We invite you to observe our classes anytime and to ask us about our safety practices. Our chief instructor is an attorney with extensive experience in personal injury cases. He knows the importance of safety and insists upon reasonable practice at all times.
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