| Martial Arts Drills are an old school way of | | | | martial arts game like "The Mummies Return" |
| teaching... I'm not saying that it doesn't work but I | | | | allows the students to practice their blocking skills |
| know there are better ways to teach your | | | | in a more active arena. The skill is the same but |
| martial art skills to kids (and adults). | | | | now they are being approached from different |
| Drills are the most basic way of learning a new | | | | angles and they have to move their feet to |
| skill. It is shown to the students as a simple | | | | position themselves correctly for the incoming |
| movement and then they are told to repeat it... A | | | | attack. |
| LOT! That can work with adults but when you try | | | | Everything is still monitored by the Instructor so |
| it with kids you'll be lucky to get them doing it 5x | | | | nothing gets out of control, but it is a whole lot |
| in a row without getting bored and distracted and | | | | more fun for the kids and they learn how to |
| start talking or doing something else. | | | | really apply the blocks in a much more realistic |
| The problem with drills is that they are | | | | situation. |
| monotonous, it is learning by repetition. Another | | | | My suggestion for teaching a new skill is to show |
| problem is that although the students may learn | | | | the class and run through the technique as a |
| the basic skill they do not learn how to apply it in | | | | martial arts drill for a max of 10x repetitions and |
| a realistic situation. As a simple example, we all | | | | then get them to apply it in a martial arts game. |
| know how easy it is to block a punch when you | | | | They will instantly understand why they need to |
| know what punch is coming, your attacker only | | | | do a skill a certain way. When you practice in the |
| strikes from one position and you don't need to | | | | air you get no feedback and can be doing it |
| move your own feet because you are | | | | completely wrong, but when you have someone |
| comfortable with how the martial arts drill will | | | | coming at you everything makes sense and you |
| work. | | | | learn how to make adjustments to quickly |
| It works the same way every time and it is | | | | improve the technique. |
| predictable which also makes it boring. | | | | So don't get me wrong, drills are still needed but |
| The alternative is practicing new skills by using | | | | only as an introduction to using a martial arts |
| games that incorporate the new technique. In a | | | | game to show it's real application. I hope this helps |
| game environment things are much more | | | | you plan your lessons to include some martial arts |
| dynamic. For the example of learning to block a | | | | games for kids. |