Aikido Summer Camp for Kids

Ages 6 - 12

June 9 - 12 (Monday - Thursday)

10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Registration now open for 2025

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"Think of the world as one true family, without limits, without end. Be a light in the world. The past, present, and future, countless generations, millions of years, are all within you."

--Morihei Ueshiba O-Sensei, founder of Aikido (1883 - 1969)

Aikido is a dynamic, non-competitive Japanese martial art whose guiding principle is harmony: within oneself, with others, and with nature. Students develop physical techniques, mental focus, interpersonal skills, and a peaceful spirit.

This year the Aikido Summer Camp for Kids will be June 9 - 12 (Monday - Thursday), from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm each day. It will be four days of fun, filled with Aiki games, Japanese craft activities, practice with the Japanese wooden staff and wooden sword, and a day of outdoor training (at DeLaveaga Park). And of course lots of training in Aikido techniques, rolling, "blending", and centering. Students learn non-violent resolutions to conflict while having fun in a safe environment.

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Aikido Summer Camp 2025 at a glance:

Dates: June 9 - 12

Times: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Place: Aikido of Santa Cruz (306 Mission St.) Mon., Tues., & Thurs.
DeLaveaga Park, Weds.

Ages: 6 - 12

Cost: $200 early-bird rate by May 1

Aikido of Santa Cruz is a non-profit educational organization serving the community since 1982. We welcome sincere students of any race, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or ethnic background.

Questions? Call us at 831-423-8326, or email info@aikidosantacruz.org

“We chose Aikido over other programs because of its focus on peaceful solutions over aggression, avoidance over confrontation. The summer camp was wonderful, because the instructors and assistants spoke with such calm voices and treated all the children with respect, expecting the same in return.” − Aikido parent

New and Experienced students welcome

Campers will practice:

“Blending” with an attack instead of fighting it, redirecting the energy back on itself and to a safe outcome.

Falling safely, including forward and backwards rolls. Don’t fight gravity, instead redirect the energy of a fall into a roll and pop back up with a smile on your face!

Besides learning Aikido techniques and having fun, the camp is an introduction to Japanese culture and traditions, including etiquette and mutual respect.

Each day at camp includes a Japanese craft activity.

Monday will be brush calligraphy, taught by Nicole Tsao Sensei. Nicole grew up in Taiwan, where “calligraphy” is… writing. (She will be teaching Japanese style kanji calligraphy, not Chinese style calligraphy.)

Tuesday: We will practice origami. One of the things we will make is paper boats, which actually float if folded so no edges are on the bottom, and sail them at DeLaveaga Creek the next day.

Wednesday (outdoor day): We will craft koinobori, carp windsock streamers, traditionally flown on Children’s Day in Japan.

Thursday craft activity TBA.

Camp is fun, so we play a lot of games. Aiki games are designed to emphasize some aspect of the training, such as awareness, agility, cooperation, or centering.

Outdoor day

On Wednesday, the camp meets at DeLaveaga Park. We will take advantage of the extra space to work with the Japanese wooden staff and/or wooden sword.

The beautiful setting at DeLaveaga Park also helps us to renew our connection with nature, which was one of O-Sensei's principles of budo. In this picture, the group, at DeLaveaga Creek, is practicing shin kokyu, a meditation and centering practice that O-Sensei did at the beginning of every Aikido class that he taught. O-Sensei called on those who practice Aikido to take on the role of protectors, not only of people, but also of the natural world.

“Those who practice the Art of Peace must protect the domain of Mother Nature, the divine reflection of creation, and keep it lovely and fresh. Warriorship gives birth to natural beauty. The subtle techniques of a warrior arise as naturally as the appearance of spring, summer, autumn and winter. Warriorship is none other than the vitality that sustains all life.”
--O-Sensei