The samurai´s training originally began at the age of 4 years. According to old recordings the education of children took place in academy-like institutions. On the one hand the lessons consisted of general education (something which), such as poetry, read, calligraphy, strategy and philosophy; and on the other hand there was physical education.

Only privileged people ("bugei") were allowed to attend such academies. The descendants of peasants or merchants were needed to earn their livelihood. So they were not in the position to learn Bujutsu far away from home for 10-12 years.
The outcome of this is a fundamental logical consequence, which is necessary to understand the training with children. Those children, later young persons, started their training with the attitude towards a successful conclusion of their training, because they had NO alternatives.  Furthermore, the children were thought to be successful, since the opposite could damage the reputation of the family or of the clan.
This attitude can still be found in modern Japan; therefore children have to endure physical and mental exertion in kindergarten and primary school, themed "hardening", in order to obtain the necessary stamina. The logical consequence is the fixed future as a samurai, as a warrior and as a servant from the entry in those academies.
But it is important to point out that at the same time such institutions also existed in Europe, which were just called academies of military science and which were only accessible for privileged people. A large difference to Japan did not exist in those days. 

Children´s training in the Budo Institute has neither such concepts nor aims.
Nobody has to mutate into Japanese and the young people won't be hindered in during their adolescence by intellectual limits. (There are old reports on the prohibition of certain books and scriptures, most of them philosophic texts, in feudal Japan to don't give them "silly" ideas. Especially texts about Zen were prohibited, because its philosophy propagated the mental and physical freedom)

Children´s training in the Budo Institute shows consideration for and bases its philosophy on the following fundamental subjects of the western culture:

•             the basic rights of personal and mental freedom
•             the spirit of peace, that is inherent in European people
•             the cognitions of ratio
•             the idea of equality between women and men

In the following order children become effortlessly acquainted with: 

Perception of one´s own body - consequently self-estimation - recognition of the consequences of one´s own actions - stringent argumentation at answering the consequential questions - contact with the world of meditation

Children´s does NOT replace parental upbringing, as it is often misunderstood. Bujutsu is neither physical nor mental education, as education has ALWAYS to do with a transformation of personal values. According to the philosophy of Zen, the master (teacher) is in NOT entitled to educate the children.
On principle Bujutsu is a most personal way for that person who is practising and NOT the way of the others. That is why everyone, whether child or adult, should train because it is his personal decision.

This decision is a condition for a successful Bujutsu-training.

I want to emphasize that children who have neither fun nor personal interest in Bujutsu, should not take part in training. At the beginning of children´s training the perception of one´s own body is in the centre of attention.
That is why children are NOT taught of the use of weapons. Only when attending regular training as juveniles they will learn how to use weapons. As a result Aikijutsu and Jukempo are the disciplines that are taught.

Necessary equipment therefore is: training-robe (available in the Budo Institute)Please gather the time of training from the training-schedule.

For lawful reasons the registration of the children has to be signed by the guardian.