Juveniles Graduate from Court System’s Aikido Program

“I think a lot of these kids are used to fighting with people. A striking art, in my opinion, leads them in the direction they’re already going. With aikido, I’m showing them that there is more than one way to deal with a situation, and most are not head first.”

Kudos to Washington County Juvenile Court System and Jason Moreland for successfully employing Aikido training as a vehicle for giving at-risk youth new alternatives for dealing with conflict! And a big thanks goes out to the Northwest Arkansas Times and their writers for documenting it for all of us Aikido-ka everywhere else!

Kate Ward has provided us with the latest update on the Aikido branch of the Washington County Juvenile Diversion Program. She has some really nice quotes from the instructor, Jason Moreland, along with some basic explanation of Aikido, as well.

The article came after the graduation ceremony where the second group of diversion participants showed parents their newly learned skills. There are quotes from some of the parents, also:

“It’s helped him in a lot of ways,’ she said. ‘He feels like he’s a part of something. It’s helped him learn to control his anger and taught him how to defend himself. He’s really loving it.”

Adam Loomis, Washington County Juvenile Detention Center intake officer provides some insights as to why Aikido was chosen as a diversion program activity.

“Adam Loomis, Washington County Juvenile Detention Center intake officer, said the program aims at helping court-involved teens become better equipped for life by developing self-esteem, discipline, character and goals.

“Karate, kung fu and tae kwon do are all striking arts,” he said. “Aikido, judo and jujitsu …teach you to blend with an attack or conflict to diffuse a situation rather than meeting aggression with aggression. Our hope is for these kids to take that theory into their own lives.”

Loomis also added that the diversion program has proven to be effective so far. None of the kids who completed the first program have been “back in the system”, he states.

Moreland also adds his insights and experiences with the youth:

“The whole program centers around me showing them that there’s a possibility to think first and react second,” Moreland said. “It teaches them that they can get what they want without going against the system. They learn to work within the situation instead of going against it.”

“I think a lot of these kids are used to fighting with people,” he said. “A striking art, in my opinion, leads them in the direction they’re already going. With aikido, I’m showing them that there is more than one way to deal with a situation, and most are not head first.”

For more information, visit www.nwaaikido.com.

Read the original article here.