THE PROBLEM OF PREPARATION OF AIKIDO ATHLETES OF THE SECOND PERIOD OF ADULTHOOD FOR THE FIRST AND SECOND DAN DEGREE ATTESTATION
Authors: Stepanyuk Svetlana , Serputko Olha , Kharchenko-Baranetska Luidmyla , Koval Victoria , Tkachuk Vera 
Published: October 2022

The article analyzes the peculiarities of the organization of physical culture and sports activities of athletes of the second period of adulthood in aikido in preparation for certification for the first and second dan degree. The state of physical culture and sports activity in the conditions of preparation for the exam for the master level is revealed. It is determined that aikido classes are recommended for adult athletes, especially of the second period of adulthood, regardless of their level of previous training. This fact corresponds to the age characteristics of this age group, and, due to individual and multifactorial approach, not only serves as a stimulus for physical exercises, but also gives the opportunity to continue active sports activities in the second period of adulthood and in subsequent periods. It was found that the optimization of physical culture and sports activities and in particular the preparation and the process of dan degree certification has a positive effect on psycho-emotional and physical condition of the athlete, reduces risk of injury during the training, aikido demonstration or certification performance. It is established that the use of division of athletes into groups according to their weight and physiological characteristics, adopted in other martial arts, is effective for aikido, reduces the risk of injury during the certification and more effectively practice and consolidate new skills. At the same time, it gives a very isolated vision of technology and its forms, because classical aikido involves working with a partner of any age, weight category and level of physical fitness.
This article identifies the problems of preparing aikido athletes of the second period of adulthood for attestation for the first and second dan degree. The features of the integral training of athletes of this age category are firstly, they are non- professional athletes who, as a rule, started practicing aikido already in adulthood that entails a number of age-related physiological aspects; often they have no any sports experience before doing aikido, or have some experience in other martial arts or kind of sports. Secondly, the dan exam (black belt, master’s degree) is preceded by a series of attestations at the qui level (student’s degree), which is a preparatory stage during which aikidoka develops his technical level, endurance, the ability of effective interaction with a partner of any level of physical preparedness and without reference to the nature of his technical and tactical actions. However, the duration of the dan exam (1-1,5 hours), the variety of techniques that are to be demonstrated at the same pace of work (manual techniques in different sections and work with weapons). A high level of psychological, emotional and physical stress during the examination often cause a low level of quality of the technique execution, numerous mistakes during the implementation, and, as a result, injury to both uke (the one on whom the technique is performed) and nage (an athlete demonstrating the aikido techniques). Sometimes such a stress leads even to a refusal of further attestations or practicing aikido. The author, an aikido trainer, basing on the personal experience, as evidenced by the results of the research, as well as the experience of Ukrainian and foreign colleagues, gives recommendations on how to increase the efficiency of training athletes for aikido and other types of martial arts at high levels attestation. Proposes methods of increasing the training effectiveness, improving the endurance of athletes, developing the ability of psychological self- control, and offers new approaches to the organization of certification, seminars and the training process, in which athletes will receive the most favorable conditions for demonstrating their knowledge, skills and abilities.