Teaching Kids Martial Arts

Martial Arts Games – Duck and Snake Relay

# of Players: 6 or more Strengths: Hand Grip Strength, Arms, Delts, Pecs, Lats and General Lower Body from the duck walking Equipment: 40ft of Rope (x2), thick rope Instructions: Students form two teams of three or more. Mark two lines 30 feet (10 meters) apart. The first students of each team must Duck Walk [...]

Martial Arts Drills

Martial Arts Drills are an old school way of teaching…
I’m not saying that it doesn’t work but I know there are better ways to teach your marial art skills to kids (and adults).

Teaching Kids Martial Arts | Keep Them Coming Back Part 2

In my experience I see three times where dropouts peak during a child’s martial art training.

The following advice works for all students young and old but I will focus on how to apply this to your younger students and you can take these ideas and adapt them for your new adult students as well.

Kids Martial Arts vs. Kids Team Sports

When you are talking to the Parents of prospective new students make these points clear. Be sure to reassure them that you will take care of their kid/s and not send them home with black eyes and a bloody nose every week. But people have ideas about what happens in classes. Everybody has heard stories about the things that go wrong. Some are just Urban Myths and the others sound like they happened because of stupidity more than neglect.

Martial Arts Games For Kids

I hope this helps Martial Arts Instructors to plan their lessons to include some martial arts games for kids.

Martial Arts Instructor teaching a young boy

Windsor BJJ – Ontario, Canada

Posted by admin on July 23rd, 2010

Ron Dupuis

Instructors Name: Ron Dupuis

Martial Arts School: Windsor Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Website: www.windsorbrazilianjiujitsu.com

Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7127461802

Motto: “Diamonds are forged under pressure”

Motivation: I have a number of kids that have trained with me for over 10 years and I have several students working on University degrees that have been with me since they were kids. I have watched these kids grow and train to become assistant instructors and leaders.

When did you open the school?

Windsor Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu opened in 2008.

What were you doing before running a Martial Arts School?

I have been teaching Martial Arts for over 24 years.

Why did you decide to teach Kids classes?

I started out teaching kids karate and evolved into a BJJ school 7 years ago.

What was your biggest hurdle when you started teaching kids classes?

Realizing that they learn at their own pace and they are getting what you tell them even though you don’t think so.

Which Martial Games have worked best with your young students?

My students enjoy the “taking the back” drill the most. It helps them develop good defence and a strong base.

What do you love most about teaching kids?

I love to see my advanced kids teaching and helping beginners out using techniques and lessons that I have taught them.

Do you have any advice for other Instructors that are just starting their kids program?

You must make things fun and really care to give them the best training you can. They will repay you in the future with loyalty and effort. They will also form a great foundation of up and coming experienced students to grow a strong school.

Technorati Tags: Martial Games, Ron Dupuis, Teaching Kids BJJ, Windsor BJJ

Colorado Keum Yong TKD – Colorado USA

Posted by admin on July 23rd, 2010

Sah-bum Ryan Cash

Instructors Name: Sah-bum Ryan Cash

Martial Arts School: Colorado Keum Yong TKD

7730 W. 87^th Dr.
Arvada, CO. 80005

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=113925655306809

Motto: Don’t just do it fast, do it RIGHT.

When did you open the school?

The class opened in the summer (U.S.) of 2009, with just two students. Since then, we’ve grown to a modest seven students.

What were you doing before running a Martial Arts School?

I was, and still am, an IT professional, supporting the largest supplier of construction and building materials in the United States

Why did you decide to teach Kids classes?

Because I believe that kids are the future of our chosen arts, and the greatest source for our future star competitors as well as promoters of the spiritual aspects of all arts.

What was your biggest hurdle when you started teaching kids classes?

Understanding how to react to ADHD/ADD kids, and their unique challenges.

Colorado Keum Yong TKD

Which Martial Games have worked best with your young students?

So far, we’ve only tried a few, namely two races and the Circle of Doom. The races were the Strike and Stop, as well as a crab walk/bear run combo. Both are great hits with all of the students, even the adult ones.

What do you love most about teaching kids?

Challenges, and the energy. They have boundless energy compared to others. I can have them workout, and still get a good lesson in there. They aren’t slowed down by the (perceived) age that some adults are, so they don’t get sloppy technique right after a good race.

Do you have any advice for other Instructors that are just starting their kids program?

Patience. And a lot of it. But also a firm hand. This does not mean you need to be dictatorial, but do let the students know that focus is a big concern. And, as always, include the parents whenever possible.

Technorati Tags: Colorado Keum Yong TKD, Sah-bum Ryan Cash

White Tiger Kick Boxing Academy – Nottingham, UK

Posted by admin on July 23rd, 2010

Samantha Wood

Instructors Name: Samantha Wood

Martial Arts School: White Tiger Kickboxing Academy, Nottingham, UK

Your Websites: www.whitetigerkickboxing.com

Motivation: I just love to see the joy on the kids faces when they are training

When did you open the school?

2007

What were you doing before running a Martial Arts School?

Working in an office

Why did you decide to teach Kids classes?

Start them learning the qualities that martial arts offers from as young as possible

What was your biggest hurdle when you started teaching kids classes?

Keeping them occupied and motivated

White Tiger Kick Boxing Kids

Which Martial Games have worked best with your young students?

Anything that challenges them

What do you love most about teaching kids?

They take everything at face value and have no fear on taking on something new

Do you have any advice for other Instructors that are just starting their kids program?

Keep kids within age groups, don’t have a kids class with too much age range

Technorati Tags: instructor sam wood, samantha wood, white tiger kick boxing academy, white tiger kickboxing

Budo Ryu Kempo – St Marys, NSW, Australia

Posted by admin on July 22nd, 2010

Shihan Cheryl

Instructors Name: Cheryl Lynch-Gardner

Martial Arts School: Budo Ryu Kempo Martial Arts St Marys RSL Youth Club, Cnr. Mamre Rd & Hall Sts, St Marys 2760 NSW Australia

Website: www.budo.com.au

Motto: Not about being the best but about doing your best.

Motivation: (What drives you to work with kids and run your Martial Arts School)I believe I have a responsibility to pass on my martial knowledge and I want to make a positive contribution to the community I live in. Children are the future and I want to be able to give them opportunities they may otherwise miss out on.

When did you open the school?

St Marys in 1993

What were you doing before running a Martial Arts School?

Same as I am doing now, have a day job

Why did you decide to teach Kids classes?

I think that sometimes kids can get overlooked in “mixed” classes and that their particular needs are not being met, I believe that you can still instruct your syllabus but for kids you can certainly add a little more, certainly some of the martial techniques lend themselves to game play and that can make it easier and more fun to understand and remember. Also kids are the biggest participants in martial arts.

What was your biggest hurdle when you started teaching kids classes? Slowing down the gradings, I wanted more time in grade for them, so that they could concentrate fully on the techniques over a longer period, but with the game play and lots of award certificates and other prizes they don’t really notice the time in between gradings.

Budo Ryu Kempo Kids

Which Martial Games have worked best with your young students?

Friend or Foe

What do you love most about teaching kids?

Love the look in their face when they get it right- that is sensational also so good to see them enjoying the class.

Do you have any advice for other Instructors that are just starting their kids program?

Not always easy but very rewarding, gets the parents on side and involve them in everything. There are a lot of kids that come to classes with many problems from ADHD to just about anything you can think of, they need to know that they can belong too, martial arts can benefit just about anyone. It is really just about putting a bit more time and effort in to it all.