Need a break from studying? Think that there’s nothing to do in Burlington? Want to meet new friends? Why not learn aikido this summer? Aikido is a traditional Japanese martial art performed by blending with the motion of an attacker and redirecting the force of the attack rather than opposing it head-on. There are both physical and mental aspects of training. The physical training covers both general fitness, conditioning, and flexibility, as well as mastery of specific self-defense techniques. The mental aspect of training emphasizes the ability to relax the mind and body even under the stress of dangerous conditions. One of the first things you will learn is how to safely roll out of a fall.
If you would like to learn more about aikido, come to a free demo at the Alamance County Community YMCA on 17 May at 7 PM. If you can’t come to the demo, then please contact Dr. David Neville (dneville@elon.edu) or Pam Duckworth (pduckworth@acymca.org) to express your interest in a class that is now forming. You can also visit the Aikido of Alamance website for more information and aikido videos.