Last week a half-dozen Islanders gathered in the wrestling room at Vashon High School to practice the ancient martial art of Aikido. One man, clad in a black belt and pants, had been practicing for decades. Another young boy had just picked up the art and didn’t even have a white Aikido uniform yet.
One of the great things about Aikido, said Vashon instructor John Koriath, is that there is no competition.
“(The goal) is for everyone to get better by practicing together,” he said.
Koriath and fellow Islander Alex Tokar began the Aikido class in October after it hadn’t been offered on Vashon for some time. So far, Koriath said, it’s attracted about a dozen Islanders, some who come more regularly than others.
Aikido is a non-violent martial art, meaning participants don’t attack each other, but instead redirect their opponents energy in an attempt to take them down, Koriath said.
“The ultimate goal is to point them in another direction they cannot resist against,” he said.
Those who practice the art, he said, do so to develop strength and flexibility, to practice using their body and mind together and to work with others.
“It’s a lot of fun. … It’s always a little more spirited with a larger group,” he said.
Koriath, a leadership coach by day, said he’s pleased with the class, which he teaches through the Vashon Park District, but would love to see it grow. On Thursday the group will host a community event to give Islanders a taste of Aikido.
On Thursday evening several members of Seattle’s Aikido dojo, or group, will visit Vashon to give demonstrations and practice with Islanders. The Seattle group’s sensei, or teacher, will instruct along with Koriath and Tokar.
Koriath said Islanders who have never practiced Aikido can either try it out that night or observe.
“You can get a feeling for whether it’s something you might enjoy doing,” he said.
The Vashon Aikdo group will host a community event from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the VHS wrestling room. Regular Aikido classes take place from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at VHS. For more information, see www.vashonparkdistrict.org or call 463-9602.
