Aikido is fun - it gives you the opportunity to
make new friends, try out a martial art and amaze yourself
with what you can do!
But for a few children the fun is spoilt by
adults who do or say things during aikido that
hurt or frighten them. What these children are experiencing
may be abuse. And they may feel they have no one to talk to
about it. Or that no one will listen to them or believe what
Is something at aikido worrying you? Are you
scared about someone?
If you think that you may be being abused, or
if you're not sure but feel worried and frightened, these pages will:
Tell an adult you trust as soon as possible. This could
be: a parent or someone else in your family; another
member at the aikido club for example the club
welfare officer; a teacher or school counsellor; your
doctor or school nurse.
If you have any problems
please contact your Association Child Protection Officer
(look on your association website for there name) or
contact Sue Ward, the BAB Lead Safeguarding Officer
on 01271 343952 If Sue is not immediately available please leave a message and she will call you back.
You can also email -
Make sure you are not alone again with the person who
has tried to harm you.
If you think you might be hurt right now,
contact the police on 999.
 - The Child Exploitation and Online
Protection (CEOP) Centre is part of UK police and is dedicated
to protecting children from sexual abuse wherever they may be.
You can report abuse through their site by using the button
below. But if you know about a child or young person who
is in immediate danger, immediate risk or you require an urgent
response, you must call 999 or your local police.
Physical abuse (Something someone
has done to hurt you)
abuse may involve, for instance, hitting, shaking, suffocating, throwing (except
in an aikido class, unless they meant to hurt you), or
otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may
also be caused when a parent or carer makes up that a child is
ill or deliberately makes a child ill.
Aikido is a sport where
physical contact does take place. For physical abuse to take place
the action would be a deliberate act ; for example, applying techniques
against the joint that hurt . (see also
Emotional abuse (something
said to you)
Emotional abuse is when something
nasty said to you for a long time and you worry about it a
• you may be told you are worthless or unloved,
not good enough all the time. • It may be
about your age or something they want you to do. • It may involve
seeing or hearing someone else being hurt. • It may
be bullying, causing you or other children to feel
frightened or in danger.
In Aikido this may be child on child, or adult
on child, and could include requiring children to undertake
actions appropriate to the sport but not appropriate within that
child’s age group.
Sexual abuse is when a young person
is asked or force to take part in sexual activities
• This may involve physical
contact. • or asking you to look at photographs of
sex or online images, watching sexual
please look at the video it
may help to explain this to you.
be a parent or carer failing to:
• Provide enough food, clothing
and shelter (including exclusion from home). • Protect a child from harm or danger. • Ensure
enough supervision • Arrange medical care or treatment.
• Pushing, kicking, hitting,
pinching and other forms of violence or threats. •
Name-calling, sarcasm, spreading rumours,
persistent teasing. • Excluding (sending
to Coventry), tormenting, ridicule, humiliation.
Bullying can occur between:
• An adult and a child. • A child
and a child. • A parent and own child.
None of the above are acceptable within aikido
The competitive nature of any sport can create
an environment which provides opportunities for bullying.
Examples of bullying in aikido could be:
• A parent who pushes too hard. • A
coach who adopts a win-at-all costs philosophy. • A
child aikidoka who intimidates inappropriately • An
older aikidoka who intimidates inappropriately • An
official who places unfair pressure on a person
The physical contact in Aikido,
combined with the importance of discipline and respect for
authority, can create the opportunity for bullying; for example,
coaches who inflict pain or humiliation on child
ukes or adult
ukes while children are
Harassment can take
many forms, some examples are sexual remarks;
racist insults or racist jokes; verbal abuse or bad language
exclusion; unwelcome attention. Harassment can be upsetting, It
is for you to decide what is ok and what you don't like.
As an example, most clubs ask students
to change partners regularly during a class and stop students
refusing practice with any one person. This might be
mean that a you feel unable to refuse to practice with
someone who is always saying you are not very good.