Step Onto the Mat and Experience Aikido & Karate
Saturday, August 29
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Open to adults and youth ages 10 and up
Have you ever been curious about martial arts but weren’t sure where to start? Join us for a free beginner-friendly workshop where you’ll get hands-on experience with both Karate and Aikido. Designed for complete beginners, this event gives you the opportunity to learn, move, ask questions, and experience martial arts alongside our existing members. Throughout the morning, you’ll participate in a variety of exercises while watching demonstrations that show how the principles you’re learning are applied in practice.
We’ll begin with Karate fundamentals, exploring basic stances, punches, kicks, forms, and beginner drills. From there, we’ll move into Aikido, where you’ll experience partner exercises, basic falling, movement training, and simple techniques that introduce concepts such as blending, timing, and awareness. Along the way, you’ll discover some of the principles that connect both arts:
- Staying relaxed under pressure
- Moving instead of meeting force with force
- Developing awareness and attention
- Finding solutions when force alone isn’t enough
Through interactive drills and exercises, you’ll experience how martial arts training can help develop confidence, coordination, focus, and the ability to respond rather than freeze in challenging situations. These are skills that can be valuable not only in martial arts, but also in everyday life, including situations involving conflict, intimidation, or bullying.
We’ll also explore some practical scenarios and discuss an important reality: self-defense is not something that can be mastered in a weekend. Real skill comes through consistent practice. This workshop is an opportunity to experience the first steps and discover what martial arts training can offer.
After the workshop, stay and enjoy burgers, hot dogs, and conversation with instructors and students.
No experience is necessary. Men and women of all backgrounds are welcome.