During warmups in yesterday’s 5:30 pm class, one of our adult students suddenly exclaimed, “Sensei, I forgot to tell you!”

He has a 2-story house with a space for a very large Christmas tree.  He was part-way up a ladder and, of course, carrying stuff.  When he climbed onto the step that was about 7-8 feet off the ground, he felt the ladder falling to the side.  Rather than fight what was obviously going to happen, he took a forward roll.  He said it was a really good roll.  He barely bruised a shoulder.  Otherwise he was entirely unhurt!  Well, done!

In response, another adult student said that he had a very different story to tell.  Back in 2001, before he had any martial arts training at all, he was about 3 feet up a ladder.  The ladder tipped and he fell.  He landed wrong on his foot and was on crutches for 3 months.

Of all the skills we work on in aikido, falling skills are amongst the very most useful.  Yes, we all could suffer physical attack.  No question.  But, the likelihood of slipping and falling is much greater. 

Keep improving your falling skills.  You really may need them.

We know you want to keep your children and students safe this Halloween!  Our goal at Aikido’Ka is to help you keep you children safe and happy throughout the year, including Halloween. 

Here are some ideas to help keep your children avoid unnecessary risks and be safe:                                           
Trick-or-Treaters

• Be Seen — Wear reflective tape on costumes and candy buckets to so that everyone can see you.
• See Everything — Make sure that you can see clearly when you are wearing your constume.  Better yet, use safe, non-toxic face paint instead of a mask. 
• Don’t Trip — Watch where you are going.  Use a flashlight so that you really can see.  Also, make sure your costume isn’t so long that you will trip on it — or that it will get caught on something.
• About Your Flashlight — Make sure your flashlight has fresh batteries.  Maybe you should carry some extra batteries!  When getting your treats, put your flashlight pointing down into your treat bucket.  That way, you will have an extra hand free and you will be able to get your flashlight easily when you need it again.  Never shine your flashlight into people’s eyes, especially people driving or bicycling.
• Make sure your props are flexible and blunt so that no one gets hurt when you play with them.
• Stay on sidewalks.  Avoid walking in streets if at possible.
• Where there are no sidewalks, walk on the left side of the road and walk so you are facing traffic.
• Look both ways and listen for traffic before crossing the street.
• Cross streets only at the corner.  Never cross the street between parked vehicles or mid-block.  Walk across the street.  Never, ever run into or across the street!
• Never trick-or-treat alone.  Trick-or-treat in a group. 
• Tell your parents where you are going.

Parents

• Ensure an adult or older, responsible youth will be supervising children under 12.
• Plan and discuss the route with your trick-or-treaters.  Make sure the route is of familiar areas and along established routes.  Instruct the children to stick to the route.
• Teach them to stop only at well-lit houses and to never to enter a stranger’s home or garage.
• Set a time for the children to be home.
• Tell children to have the person responsible for them to check any treats before eating them. Otherwise, wait until they get home to eat any treats.
• Review trick-or-treating safety precautions, including pedestrian and traffic safety rules.
• Make sure the costumes are flame-retardant, highly-reflective and visible.

Have fun!