| I hate walking into a Martial Art School and seeing | | | | ninjas... whatever you think is most interesting or |
| a bunch of kids walking their way through | | | | relevant for their age. Now tell them that they |
| techniques, blocks, exercises, stretches and katas | | | | can use any technique they want to hurt the bad |
| as if they are just doing vague movements while | | | | guys when they attack and that it is best not to |
| waiting for the class to finish. | | | | repeat the same technique too often as the bad |
| I also hate walking into a class that is totally out | | | | guys will notice and learn to block it.Tell the Kids |
| of control with kids running wild and ignoring all | | | | which direction they need to face when doing |
| instruction.It may seem strange to some but I'd | | | | their attacks. Now the fun begins. |
| rather have the first problem to deal with than | | | | Always call out the first attacker coming from |
| the second.A great problem to have is a class full | | | | 12:00 to get them started, then start mixing it up... |
| of kids who have too much energy, all you need | | | | there's one at 3:00, now there's another one at |
| to do is find a way to harness that energy. | | | | 9:00, quickly 12:00 get him.... Start slowly, then |
| At the start of every lesson you will have some | | | | speed things up so that they have just enough |
| kids bubbling with energy and others that need to | | | | time to reset their ready fighting stance from the |
| be woken up, which is why I think the first 5-8 | | | | last attack before calling the next one. Keep them |
| minutes of the lesson are the most important to | | | | turning and don't get into a rhythm/pattern, |
| get right.Hyper-active kids need to burn off | | | | occasionally make them wait and wonder what |
| excess energy while slow starters need to be | | | | you are going to call next. |
| warmed up in some way. One of my best | | | | This Martial Game has a lot of great benefits: |
| solutions when teaching martial arts to kids is a | | | | 1. It teaches them direction |
| quick game called "The Fury". | | | | 2. It tests their knowledge of techniques |
| The number of kids that can participate at one | | | | 3. It tests their techniques under pressure |
| time is dictated by the size of your training | | | | 4. It tests their balance and footwork |
| area.Be sure to space the kids out with plenty of | | | | 5. It teaches them to cover as they transition |
| room around them before starting.You may need | | | | from one direction to another |
| to split the class into a couple of groups and run | | | | 6. It gets the heart pumping, lungs opening, brain |
| one group at a time. | | | | focusing |
| In my Martial Art we use the concept of a clock | | | | 7. It burns excess energy and energisers the slow |
| on the ground to give a reference point for | | | | starters. |
| techniques. When you first take a ready stance | | | | This is a fun way to start a session as it gets |
| the direction in front of you is 12o'clock, behind | | | | everyone involved and creates an upbeat mood in |
| you is 6:00, your left side is 9:00 and your right is | | | | the room.This way the kids are pumped up and |
| 3:00. If you prefer you can try using the | | | | on a high, but at the same time you've burnt off |
| directions of a compass but I find the clock is | | | | the excess energy that causes fidgeting and |
| more easily understood by the kids when first | | | | distractions.When your kids are huffing and puffing |
| playing this Martial Game. | | | | they are less inclined to muck around. |
| With the kids all facing the front in their fight | | | | Please try this game in your next kids class and if |
| stance you explain to them that they are going | | | | you want a good laugh try it on the adults as well. |
| to fight imaginary demons/bad guys/ghosts | | | | |