Equipment Directory |
This Directory is primarily intended for instructors to share
their experiences with various equipment that may help run a safe
and entertaining kid's class. Particularly welcome are suggestions
for ways to use common objects in an instructional setting. Commentary
and questions on this topic are welcome in the Forum.
Vendors wishing to have samples evaluated are welcome to send
them to AikidoKids.com for review (see Contact Page for address).
Vendors, identifying themselves as such, are welcome to submit
directly to the Equipment Directory as well, but only Sponsoring
Vendors will get live links to their home or product pages.
To edit or update a listing, please send corrections to: listings@aikidokids.com
|
| Product Name |
Category |
Vendor
Where to Buy
Phone |
Price/Unit |
Students/Unit |
Other Skills |
| Folding Grappling Mat |
mats |
Tiffins
http://www.tiffinsmats.com
314-555-1212 |
$300 or so, depending on size |
2-3 |
Balance, movement, technique, ukemi |
| Designed for grappling, the 2.5" thick folding mats work well for Aikido. Available in a variety of sizes, and colors, that can accomodate virtually any dojo floor configuration. Mats have heavy-duty velcro tabs that keeps them connected, but they are easy to take up after practice. |
| Hickory Bokken |
training weapons |
BuJin Design
http://www.bujindesign.com/weapons.html#hb
1.866.444.3644 |
$83 |
1 |
Technique |
| The two layers of cross-grained laminated hickory of their Original Bokken combine to create a stronger training weapon. Shaped in the Jigenryu style, well balanced with the traditional oval-shaped tsuke (hilt), a blunt kensaki (point), and a thicker, fuller design than most.
Bokken is 42" long and is available in three sizes: Small, Medium and Large. |
| Aikido Shinai |
training weapons |
BuJin Design
http://www.bujindesign.com
1-866-444-3644 |
$65.00 |
1 |
Blending, technique |
| Used for aikido sword training, these practice weapons are made of bamboo. Each has an hand-laced suede cover and grip, and measures approximately 43" long. These shinai are excellent training aids for kumitachi and tachidori. The principal advantage for kid's training is that they are safer than real wood bokken for paired practice, and can also be used to practice not panicking and getting off the line when the instructor attacks - and if the kid does freeze, tapping them on the head with the shinai won't hurt them. Available in Medium and Large grip sizes, and in a range of colors. Choose from Black, Chocolate, Navy and Rust. |
| Zebra Grappling Mat |
mats |
Zebra Mats
http://www.zebramats.com/
1-(800)-989-8085 |
$110 ($5.25 per square foot) |
1/2 to 1 |
Balance, technique, ukemi |
| Zebra Grappling Mats each measure 1 meter by 2 meters (standard tatami size) and are 1.5" thick. Designed to absorb the energy of falls from Judo and Aikido, these mats have a tatami-like textured vinyl top surface and a rubber anti-skid bottom. Zebra mats are suitable for multi-use spaces where the mats have to live stacked in a closet when not in use, or for more permanent installations. Zebra Mats were showcased at this year's Aiki Expo in Las Vegas, and are commonly used in national and international tournaments and demonstrations. |
| Make your own Tanto |
training weapons |
do it yourself modification
|
free |
2 |
Focus, technique |
| Bokken often warp, and sometimes break. Either way - they are not much use as Bokken, but can be carved down into perfectly good tanto. It takes a while to build up a supply this way, but it takes some of the sting out of losing the bokken. The best part to use is typically the handle end from base to tsuba-mark, which a belt sander or file can put an edge and point on. |
| Gymnic Ball |
Balls |
Various online catalogs
palossports.com, performbetter.com, abilitations.com, among others.
|
$13-$35, depending on size |
depends on activity |
Awareness, balance, blending, connection, extension, movement |
| Gymnic balls are very high quality, and are said to hold up to 600 lbs. Available in sizes from 30 cm. (12 inches) up to 85 cm. (34 inches), these balls can be used in a variety of games (see Games directory), and to help beginners learn to roll - as the ball allows them to stay round as they roll without thinking that they have to hold up all their body weight with their leading arm. While they can withstand people standing on them, and this might be useful balance practice, this sort of circus stunt requires spotters in every direction. |
| old gi belt |
ropes |
various
|
free |
2 |
Balance, connection, focus |
| We wash old/unclaimed gi belts and keep them in a drawer to use for balance exercises: 1] belt wound around their backs and ends held in the student's hands - forming an "S" shape if seen from above - and each tries to turn hips and pull or release belt so that the other student's feet move first. 2] students face each other with belt held tight between their right (and then left) hands, and each tries to pull the other over. Old gi belts can also be used collectively as a rope for any game or exercise that needs one. Different colored belts for instance, can be tied together and used as a jump rope, with last moment commands about which color the students have to jump over. |
| Pipe Insulation |
Training Weapons |
Home Depot
any hardware/plumbing store
|
$2 |
1 |
Technique, safety |
| Usually gray, these hollow foam tubes are meant to insulate hot water pipes, but make very good, and very safe, practice bokken for younger students. A reasonably stiff "sword" can be achieved by duct-taping the slit closed, leaving it open makes the foam tube more flexible, and suitable for games of tag. A short section of broom handle can be taped/glued into one end to accomodate smaller hands. Pipe Insulation is also an ideal way to put protective padding on the edges of steel beams or other protruding structural elements you don't want to run into. |
| Good Aikido Books |
Aikido Reading |
Aikido Today, Aikido Journal, EBay, Amazon, etc.
|
varies |
|
|
| Most people will agree that you can't learn the physical components of a martial art from a book. Nevertheless, a good book can teach important things about Aikido - from good conversation starters like history and philosophy to practical stuff like the names of techniques. Some books, by Gaku Homma and Michael Friedl, among others, are directed at kids, while others (by authors too numerous to list) are directed at adults, but even so may be worth keeping as part of a dojo collection that kids are allowed to borrow and take home with them. |
| Aikido Shoto Shinai |
training weapons |
BuJin Design
http://www.bujindesign.com/
866.444.3644 |
$49 |
one |
Cooperation, extension, movement, technique, tachidori, and kumitachi |
| Intended for adult two-sword training, these 30" Shoto Shinai are the the kid-sized companion pieces for the regular Aikido Shinai (which are 43"). They are made of imported Calcutta bamboo and feature durable hand-laced suede covers. Available in medium grip size only in Black, Chocolate, Navy, and Rust. |
| Zafu (Meditation Cushion) |
Meditation aids |
Four Gates
http://www.fourgates.com/halfmoon.asp
|
$35.95 |
1 |
Awareness, focus, quieting the mind |
| Teaching kids to quiet down can be a real challenge. If short meditation sessions can be worked into a kid's program, there are many potential benefits. Meditation pillows can also be used, carefully, as props for various games. Personally, we like the ergonomically designed half-moon shape meditation pillows that create heel space. Traditional round zafus force a sitter who crosses their ankles in front of them to sit on the edge of the cushion. With this crescent shape the space for your heels allows more of you to be on the cushion, distributing your weight over a greater area, and giving you more support. |
| Gi pants with padded knees |
uniforms |
do it yourself modification
|
your Gi pants plus neoprene and time |
1 |
Suwari waza, seiza |
| Take a pair of gi pants and sew a pocket, open at the top, about 8" wide and 11" tall on each knee. When standing, the top of the pocket should be just above the kneecap, so that when the leg is bent, the kneepad slides up a bit but still provides plenty of coverage on and below the knee. Fit a neoprene (or other firm but resilient padding) pad into the pocket - either 1/4 or 1/2 inch thick. You can pull the pad out to wash the gi pants, or leave it in, but neoprene won't slip out during training if the fit is reasonably snug. The advantage of padded knees, besides the obvious that seiza and suwari waza entail less wear and tear on the knee joints, is that by taking the pain away - the same person can train better and longer - and thereby reap the posture and movement benefits of suwari training more easily. |
| Push-Broom Handle Jo |
training weapons |
do it yourself modification
broom closet, janitor
- |
0 |
1 |
Technique, weapons training |
| While not appropriate for contact training, a wooden push-broom handle - which otherwise get thrown away when the threads snap off or wear down - makes a perfectly good jo for tsuburi or kata training. Collect these as they become available (at work or at school), and soon you may have enough for the entire class. Cut them to size and sand the cut end, and discard any that are too warped. |
| Samurai Films |
Books/Movies |
Criterion Collection DVD's
amazon.com
|
$4 to rent, $25 to buy |
20 |
Focus, technique |
| While aikido is not exactly the study of how to become a samurai, it is the samurai who live in the mythological center of the land we are training to occupy. More simply put - Samurai make walking around in a hakama and carrying a sword look cool, and watching a film like Kurosawa's Yojimbo, Hidden Fortress, or Seven Samurai makes it easier for a kid to imagine the connection between what they're learning and a heroic life outside the dojo - and this connection to something heroic makes it just a bit easier for them to choose aikido training over the other things (soccer, piano lessons, robotics club, etc.) that compete for their attention and their limited after-school hours. Watching such films as a class activity (though probably not in a regularly scheduled class time) is a fun excuse for an aikido party, and a good chance for kids to forge a social bond with their aikido peers - who otherwise might not interact off the mat and reap the friendship benefits of training together. |
| Blindfold |
training aids |
various
make it yourself
|
$2 |
1 |
Awareness, extension, focus, listening |
| Taking vision away requires students to exercise their other senses, and to demonstrate a much higher level of attentiveness. Many games - mostly versions of tag - incorporate blindfolds, and need only to be supervised closely to make sure the blindfolded student doesn't hit anyone or run off the mat or into the shomen. Having a few blindfolds available gives the instructor the chance to make almost any aikido exercise more challenging - up to and including a very careful randori. Blindfolds can also be used to change power relationships - giving opportunities to learn to trust other students as they lead you thru an obstacle course, for instance. |
| Aikido Today Magazine |
Aikido Reading |
Arete Press
http://www.aiki.com/
800-445-AIKI |
back issues available |
8 |
Balance, technique, Thoughtfulness |
| Aikido Today Magazine was the leading English language international journal on Aikido for its 100 issues starting in the 80's, running until 2005, and many dojos keep a library of back issues. While some articles may be over the heads of some younger students, in general the wide range of topics and interviews provides something for everyone. Reading about Aikido helps integrate our intellect with our practice - helping us find the words to describe what we're doing, providing answers to questions we may not have realized we had, and opening our minds to connections between our lives and our practices that we may not have seen. |
| Snake Pillow |
|
make it yourself
|
fabric, stuffing, time |
10 |
Falling |
| Our dojo has a 20' long pillow, called the snake, which lays atop a bench along the back wall. It serves as a clear barrier in the middle of the mat for various games, and gets tied up into a pretzel shape to become a soft landing pad for highfall practice. The snake is about a foot in diameter, stuffed fairly firm, and can be as long as you'd like. Another great use is to create a large circle with it to allow everyone to sit in meditation more comfortably. |
| Tennis Ball on String |
Make it Yourself |
|
$1 |
20 |
Movement, timing |
| Take a tennis ball, cut small "X" incisions on both sides, and thread a small rope through it. When the rope is swung around, the ball gives everyone a point to focus on, and a reason to pay attention, as the ball won't really hurt anything but their pride, but might sting just a little depending on how fast it's moving. The rope can be swung around making a circle that kids want to get as close as possible to without touching (so that the ball just grazes their nose, or chest, or knee, etc.) or they may have to enter into the circle each time the ball swings by, getting out of the circle before the ball gets back to them. The ball can also be swung forming a verticle disk, and kids can be asked to step thru it wihout getting tagged. |
| Pumpkins, Squash, and Watermelons |
Weapons |
Farm Stand or Grocery Store
|
varies |
one per pumpkin |
Technique, Sword swinging |
| Pumpkins, Squash, and Watermelon (depending on season, availability - but pumpkins will be cheap the week after Halloween) can each be used - out in the parking lot or a nearby field - for a memorable weapons training event. Place whatever you're using on a durable stool or stump of a log, and give each kid a chance to swing away with bokken. Kids can compete if you choose in categories like cleanest cut, messiest splatter, etc. Consider having kids wear a pancho over their keiko gi to keep it clean. |
| Small Ball |
Balls |
various
Toys are Us, Target, Wal Mart
|
a few bucks each |
20 |
Blending, connection, focus, technique |
| A ball small enough to be held in one hand by your youngest students is still big enough for lots of different games and activities - with students of any age. See techniques from a new perspective when your partner grabs the ball in your hand rather than your wrist. Hold the balls while rolling to emphasize roundness. Improve dexterity by walking and rolling across a floor littered with balls rolled by onlookers, etc. Literally thousands of uses. |
| Bokuto/Bokken |
Weapons |
Sei Do Kai
http://sdksupplies.netfirms.com/cat_stdweapons.htm#Bokuto
|
varies by wood |
one or two |
Technique, posture, distance |
| Sei Do Kai sells a wide variety of wooden jo, bokken (which they call bokuto), and tanto. Their bokuto come in several styles and several woods, so prices and durability vary accordingly. Prices seem fair, quality seems good. |
| Throw Mat |
mats |
Tiffin
http://www.tiffinmats.com/martial/throw.html
800-843-3467 |
$300 |
20 |
Movement, technique, timing, ukemi |
| The Throw Mat is that BIG "cushion" you need for throws and gymnastics-type techniques. Our mat is 8" of polyurethane foam covered by an 18 oz. double stitched vinyl fabric cover with reinforced handles on all sides for easy handling. Especially good for teaching high falls, as the thick 8" mat absorbs the landing so much better than a regular training surface. Listed price is for a mat 4' x 8', which students would use one at a time. Be aware that kids need to be supervised while using, as they may be tempted to toss themselves carelessly or dive at the mat head first, which is never a good idea. |
| Ninja Throwing Tissues |
Harmless Throwing Objects |
Kleenex
grocery store, costco
|
$2 a box |
2-6 |
Focus, Centering, |
| From 6', throwing an open tissue is a way for the target to experience the shock/tension of an attack, with no possible harm. Breathing down into one's belly and staying centered lets a kid experience NOT panicking, NOT tightening up, NOT getting angry, etc. Tissues can be thrown in alternating pairs, or at a student in the center of a circle. |
| Liquid Nitrogen |
|
Industrial Gas Supply houses, Labs
|
|
10 |
Extension, technique, Sword Cuts |
| Ok - this stuff is dangerous and should never be used without appropriate gloves, goggles, and supervision. That said, there is almost nothing so satisfying as swinging a bokken at a pumpkin and having it shatter into a thousand pieces. We generally do this around Halloween, but it doesn't have to be pumpkins - almost any vegetable matter will work (as do tennis balls). One "dewar" of LN will freeze one medium pumpkin, or many little ones. We get ours from a parent who works in a local laboratory. |
| Pool Noodles (aka Funoodles) |
weapons |
various
Google "Pool Noodle"
|
about $50 for 30 short swords |
20+ |
Awareness, extension, focus, movement, technique, timing, sword work, footwork |
| Pool Noodles -foam rods about 5' long and 3" in diameter - are usually 5' long. Cut them in half to get a short "sword" ultra-safe training weapon. Cutting and thrusting are fun, but inherently harmless. Use as bokken with younger kids for weapons avoidance training, use in games of tag if you're feeling adventurous. |
| Shinken (Cutting Blade) |
weapons |
Gold Mountain Forge (or others)
http://www.goldmountainforge.com/
215-837-0506 |
varies by quality, but expect to pay at least $1,200 |
12 |
Extension, movement, technique, sword work |
| Obviously, only under VERY controlled circumstances, and probably only with older and advanced students - but use of live steel for cutting "targets" - rolled up straw mats, soaked overnight, on a stand - is genuinely thrilling. and a real opportunity to feel like the samurai who's arts aikido is descended from. These should not be used for paired practice, and never used without protecting the mat, and only after students have earned the significant privilege of even being allowed to hold the sword, with one or two actually allowed to try swinging it. Besides being a really cool activity to keep older kids interested, it is a big enough carrot to get them to work really hard to earn the right to try cutting. Just knowing there is a live blade, maybe, in their future, any time spent with bokken is that much more focused and useful. |
