Having sought out a dojo of this caliber and spoken to a number of parents whose children also attend, Akiyama Dojo is quite a find. I surveyed the dojo and met with Sensei Ken a year in advance of my oldest daughter’s 5th birthday, the age at which she’d get involved in training. Around the time my daughter turned 5, we jumped into the dojo community.
When we first started, Ken was up front that not all client/student expectations match the dojo; not a one-size-fits-all arrangement so expect to have a healthy conversation about your expectations and be sure to ask what the training expectations are for you/your child.
Not knowing how my daughter would do in a new environment at the age 5, I was encouraged by Ken’s outside-the-box approach to captivating young warriors-to-be. During class time, which is highly tailored to young warriors, he observes each child throughout the lesson and works to focus the curriculum to ensure each child is engaged and learning. He keeps the tempo of the class from exercise to movements/drills at a pace that keeps the children focused and engaged (not an easy task, but he makes it look easy).
Ken focuses on what works for the class as a whole and normally one of the instructors will work to engage and encourage the students who may need a little more help. Ken has created a team dynamic which is leveraged throughout the class to help motivate and coordinate the young students. By instilling the concept of teamwork and using a team dynamic, Ken is able to focus the class as a single group, all working together for the benefit of each other. It also builds exceptional camaraderie among the students!
I now have 2 of my 3 children enrolled and it has been unique and encouraging. Just the right amount of structure, positive reinforcement, and creativity, the learning environment appeals to my children and leaves them excited to attend and continue training. I’ve seen them develop self-confidence, strength, determination, and, while my younger is still working on honing his focus, there’s been improvement there too!
If you are interested in the dojo community for either yourself or your child, I’d encourage you to reach out and setup a meeting and/or try a class. Having been involved for a few years now, it’s a journey my children and I have thoroughly enjoyed and plan to continue for the future.
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