| Martial arts is just like any other sport: repetition | | | | They will only have a few seconds to react, and |
| is critical to developing proper form and technique. | | | | their turn should end in less than 10 seconds |
| But with repetition comes boredom, especially | | | | (whether they successfully defended or not). You |
| when working with children. If you want to keep | | | | can also put your students in a circle with a |
| your students interested and engaged, then | | | | defender in the middle. Students can take turns |
| incorporate some of these fun activities into your | | | | on your command serving as the attacker. With |
| regular routines.o Catch Your Tail Cut a piece of | | | | advanced students, you can even call out for |
| ribbon about 3-4 feet long and pair off your | | | | multiple attackers. The key to random attacker |
| students. Tie the ribbon to the back of the belt of | | | | scenarios is making sure they use attacks that |
| the "head" student and give the "tail" to the other | | | | the students have learned to defend.o Whistle Drlll |
| student. The goal is for the head to catch the tail. | | | | This is a variation on Simon Says. Blow your |
| Students will have to think creatively and use | | | | whistle and call out a drill, like jumping jacks. Your |
| agility to be successful while having fun.o Obstacle | | | | students will perform the drill until the next time |
| Course Use your imagination and creativity to set | | | | you blow the whistle, at which point the students |
| up an obstacle course with different stations. | | | | freeze and don't move until you blow the next |
| These can include punches on the hanging bag, | | | | whistle. If a student moves, then he/she is out. |
| push ups, jumping jacks, crawling through a tunnel | | | | You can try to trick the students by calling out a |
| made from a rolled up mat, and walking on a | | | | drill without blowing your whistle.o Point Tag This |
| balance beam. Again, use your imagination to | | | | is a form of sparring that focuses on speed and |
| create a fun routine for your students.o Dodge | | | | concentration. Have students face off against |
| Ball The game may have lost favor in public | | | | each other and give them a goal, like tagging their |
| schools, but it is wonderful for encouraging speed | | | | opponent's left shoulder. Students have to try to |
| and evasion skills. Throw in some forward rolls, | | | | accomplish the goal while protecting their own |
| and you will really see your students working hard | | | | target. Once a student's target is tagged, the |
| and having a great time.o Random Attack and | | | | match is over. |
| Defense Your students will love the opportunity | | | | Variety is the spice of life, and this couldn't be |
| to practice their self-defense skills in a realistic | | | | truer than with kids and routines. By using your |
| scenario. Have your students form a single file line | | | | imagination to work some of these activities into |
| in front of you. When each student comes to the | | | | your schedule, your students are certain to stay |
| front of the line, throw an attack at them quickly. | | | | more engaged and focused. |