Photo byBen WicksonUnsplash

In the thrilling realm of New Jersey, where fire-breathing dragons camouflage themselves as smoke-spewing factories and mystical mermaids disguise themselves as surfers riding the Atlantic waves, an extraordinary group of children morph into mighty samurai warriors. They are not ordinary kids, oh no, they are Aikido kids! These mini martial artists, who may look just like your everyday Jack and Jill when they're busy with math equations and science projects, are secretly superheroes in training. At the Aikido dojo, they swap their school bags for kimonos and their pencils for wooden swords. And, you'll never believe who teaches them - Grand Master Snortimer, a giant, green, wobbly blob of a creature, with a belly that jiggles like a bowl of jello every time he laughs, which is almost always. Snortimer, a 5th degree black belt from the planet "Judo-nobo", has eyes that twinkle with mischief and a voice that thunders like a summer storm. With his three wavy arms, he can demonstrate Aikido moves that will make your eyes spin like a dizzy pigeon. He insists that Aikido is not about fighting, but about harmonizing with energy. It's about using an opponent's force against them, a bit like that time when you convinced your little brother to do your chores for a week. Balancing on one toe, rolling around like tumbleweeds, these New Jersey Aikido kids learn to be quick, kind, and brave. Be it dodging a mythical beast's fiery breath or standing up to a class bully, they're always ready, always fearless. So next time you see a kid from New Jersey, remember, they may just be a superhero in disguise!