Teaching Juniors (under 16's) - Page 2

Lucy · 06-21-2007, 02:50 PM

Osu Japman,

I would definately not go down a mcdojo road no worries there! Our club seems to be lacking spirit in the junior section. It would be very true karate based and i would only use games for warming them up or as a reward.

Lucy · 06-21-2007, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AJH

I'm sure you'll find it a rewarding experience - good luck with it and feel free to visit us in Bristol whenever you like!

Regards
Allan

Hey if ever im down your way then sure i will! I like touring the dojo's

kakatootoshi · 06-21-2007, 07:28 PM

This is a training session of a Kyokushinkan shonenbu in Japan.
YouTube - Kyokushinkan Saitama Central Branch

OSU!

Bruce · 06-21-2007, 08:02 PM

Lucy

I assume you're talking about the Bexhill club - Have you thought about asking Sempai Leanne what works for her, the Westhill club is always many times bigger than Bexhill and that can't all be down to catchment size! Although I would say that when it comes to marketing that Westhill is far more proactive than Bexhill and that probably plays a significant part in the disparate class sizes.

I think you need to have faith in yourself as well, you've got a lot of talent and kids are just as aware of that as adults are and will respond better as well - I think all people regardless of age will recognise when their instructor is technically gifted and it makes them aspire to try and reach the same level - I can remember seeing Sensei Chris the first time and just being blown away by his skill in khion as I'd not seen that level before - And I've seen people in both Westhill and Bexhill be seriously impressed with you for a similar reason. Incidentally I'm not trying to disparage the instructors at Bexhill who I believe you described as older men because they've both been responsible for the level of skill that I have, I'd gladly train under them anyday!!! Of course I'm not 10 years old.

Someone mentioned it earlier but in my experience (I helped to teach kids for about 2 years in a different style) kids always responded better to a more varied and challenging session - Spending an hour working on 10th kyu syllabus basics might be palatable to an adult (Barely!!) but most kids will be bored to tears after 15 minutes, if memory serves the most interest was generated by throwing in tobi yoko geris occasionally. Of course that used to annoy me as they were all better at it than me........bless them! And as someone else wrote, know their names, it helps heaps.

**Shokei Marcsui** · 06-21-2007, 08:10 PM

I have helped Sensei teach a handful of the younger, lower kyu(s) kihon or kata (taikyoku Ichi, Ni, San).

When I first started helping out I was too nice to the students. Some of them would ask, "Can I go to the bathroom?" and I would just break down and let them go. After that person came back, the rest of the other students wanted to do so as well.

Lesson learned: Trip to the bathroom will cost 20 pushups & 20 Squats

Bruce · 06-21-2007, 08:19 PM

What? 20 pushups and 20 squats? You should have made an example of the first one and electrocuted him.....discipline, that's what they need, give them all a damn good thrashing..............didn't cause me any problems.....twitch, twitch, twitch.

jane · 06-21-2007, 09:58 PM

Lucy and anyone else teaching kids..

I cut my teeth teaching on kids and it certainly is a challenge. In my experience (limited) the ability to be flexible, assess who you have in front of you and what they can and want to do is key. You may have a child with servere learning difficulties up to a very capable teen or 'young adults' as they like to be referred to. Keep them busy, try to send each one away with something positive and something to learn.

They all need something to aspire to so if you can involve some high grade adults to demonstrate kata or kihon and get them to spar (no contact for the adult of course)with the kids, then that seems to go down well.

Remember to be aware of child protection policy if you are teaching minors. All clubs should have one and if you are doing to teach regularly then you should be part of that policies regulation.

Today's kids are tomorrows fighters

Aunty Ichigeki · 06-21-2007, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jap man

Lucy,
As for the little ninja's B/S please, please don't go down that road..... This is Karate not humpty dumpies play house... it is the wrong thing and the wrong foundation for Karate!!!!
It seems great and fun blah, blah, blah its not...
Remember that this was developed to increase students, retention and to bring in money to the dojo. So it really is a lie... its all marketing based B/S, explotation of the general public, advertised by Martial Arts Industries like NAPMA, MIA, etc You all talk about the McDojo's and the like well little ninja'sprogram is the McDojo's program for kids!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you beleive you are Karateka and have budo then teach budo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

O my goodness! O my goodness! This makes me sad. Sure the little ninja's program is not Kyokushin but there's some great stuff hidden in the NAPMA, MIA, Little Ninja material that's worth at least an awareness of. Even if it's only to prove to yourself how much you hate it and how bad it is I recommend everyone who finds themselves instructing or particularly running a club to watch it and whatever else you can find so you know what you're up against. You don't have to go down that road but you can take what you like from it and forget what doesn't fit with Kyokushin or with your own ethics or beliefs. We all know McDojo's & have had to compete with crappy instructors with crappy programs recruiting successfully because they have great marketing. Why not take what they have to offer re. marketing to make Kyokushin bigger! Sticking your head in the sand is a great way to get left behind. How many kids have been put of martial arts because they were attracted by a better ad or website than ours & went to a stink school? I think it's our job to promote Kyokushin as best we can. I'm not suggesting we forgoe Kyokushin syllabus material for Ninja stuff but there's nothing wrong with picking up games, developmental exercises and tricks to keep kids engaged and inspired from any source to bring your kids on. I simply don't agree with telling anyone not to look outside the box.

**ksan** · 06-21-2007, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shokei Marcsui

Lesson learned: Trip to the bathroom will cost 20 pushups & 20 Squats

Osu,

I like this one, hadnt thought of that yet

. Will see if i can introduce this.

Osu

Ksan

**Shokei Marcsui** · 06-21-2007, 10:58 PM

You often hear the words Strongest Karate and Kyokushin synonymously linked together.

Strongest Karate.. hardest training. Most adults are enticed by the possibility of becoming a strong, kumite hardened karateka but give up when they have to go above what is normally required of them physically.

That being said, these are children. Tweens to Grade Schoolers. Physically, the children will adapt to whatever training you give to them. Mentally, they are children and lack the focus that some adults have.

I would see a program like the "litte ninjas" catering to them mentally and making them excited about Kyokushin. The physical endurance of repeated kihon and kumite is what will set this program apart as a Kyokushin Class instead of a McDojo.

I participate in both children and adult classes. The only thing that is different between the two is a little more humor in the kids class and exercises like "duck walk" and "frog hop". More repetitions as well in the adult class and we get to see sensei's "nicer" side

OSU!

Lucy · 06-21-2007, 11:19 PM

Great advice again guys! Im so glad ive opened up this discussion. Really useful insights are coming thick and fast. I will probably start on wednesday and assist obviously for a while. As Jane said we have a very thorough process as regards to the children. I will have to complete a crimnal record check before i could become solely responsible for them and file in a whole load of paper work. Ive attended an instructors course where we had a lengthy meeting on the protocal involving juniors.

I have been in the club since i myself was a junior. We never had a seperate section back then, but the hard repetative training suited me and of course times have changed and what we 4 kids went through back then would no way be allowed now

it was harsh. The instructor at the time was a bully (im not naming names) and broke most of the rules that we now have set out in our 'nanny state' that is England!

Aunty Ichigeki · 06-22-2007, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucy

The instructor at the time was a bully (im not naming names) and broke most of the rules that we now have set out in our 'nanny state' that is England!

Ha ha... Uncle has resorted to telling the kids their parents send them to him because he's legally allowed to hit them whereas they're not. He gets some wide eyes!

Spirit · 06-22-2007, 01:19 PM

Ha ha... Uncle has resorted to telling the kids their parents send them to him because he's legally allowed to hit them whereas they're not. He gets some wide eyes!
Now that is just incorrect!!!
We talk about ethics and then we lie to them???

Look, I may not have all the answers and I may not know every angle to teach kids, but I do know this 31 years of teaching kids and I look back at every class to teach myself to teach better. I ask question from other instructors since they are outside looking in...

Martial Arts Industries is nothing more than money hungry B/S. One can grow a dojo without going down that road.
Yes learn what you can from them, I do all the time, but don't buy anything or follow their B/S ways...

Its not about making Kyokushin strong its about making Karate strong again.

As for the "strongest karate" etc, that was marketing as well....... so was the bull fights and the stone and bottle top breaking too. Just markting hiden behind feats of skill...

Aunty Ichigeki · 06-25-2007, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jap man

Ha ha... Uncle has resorted to telling the kids their parents send them to him because he's legally allowed to hit them whereas they're not. He gets some wide eyes!
Now that is just incorrect!!!
We talk about ethics and then we lie to them???

Don't worry Jap Man. He's a bit of a joker is Uncle. The kids figure out when he's pulling their leg very quickly. In NZ just last month a bill was passed meaning parents can be prosecuted for even lightly smacking their kids so it's a topical joke that goes down well with the parents.

sonofkanga · 06-25-2007, 06:12 AM

Kids,you need tons of patience,imagination, and generally to be one yourself.
1.Set boundaries and enforce them.
2.Treat them with respect.
3.Play games that apply techniques.
4.After going through a kata ,have the class turn clockwise 90 degrees,and start again.
5.Always teach the correct form of the technique.
6.Use positive messages.
7.NEVER lose your temper with them.

I say that if they don't behave i will kick them back in time so that no one will remember it.

Lucy · 06-25-2007, 01:14 PM

Nice advice sonofkanga! I think im a pretty big kid myself! Having two boys ive always liked to get involved in their games.....im the crazy mum that rides through the streets on a tiny gold BMX bicycle lol!

Spirit · 06-25-2007, 01:33 PM

Aunty "Don't worry Jap Man. He's a bit of a joker is Uncle. The kids figure out when he's pulling their leg very quickly. In NZ just last month a bill was passed meaning parents can be prosecuted for even lightly smacking their kids so it's a topical joke that goes down well with the parents."

Hey I'm all for discipline aunty, in fact we use a bamboo stick in each class no matter the age... {though 99% stick is a visuale motivator for kids 6-10 and if used a very light tap or as a pointer, my back is to old to bend down to those little guys haha}
Just big on saying what needs to be said to all no matter age, geuss I have a thing about being told stories (from when I was a kid to many years in parochial schools and all the stories) and then finding them out they are not true as I got older...

sonofkanga "Kids,you need tons of patience,imagination, and generally to be one yourself.
1.Set boundaries and enforce them.
2.Treat them with respect.
3.Play games that apply techniques.
4.After going through a kata ,have the class turn clockwise 90 degrees,and start again.
5.Always teach the correct form of the technique.
6.Use positive messages.
7.NEVER lose your temper with them."

I say that if they don't behave i will kick them back in time so that no one will remember it

Great guide rules and teaching syllabus!!!

Satori · 06-25-2007, 03:51 PM

[offtopic] jap man: you can press the "Quote" button under each person's post to quote them instead of copying and pasting their text. [/offtopic]

Spirit · 06-26-2007, 01:07 PM

Thank you I'm aware of that, I'm not aware of how to do multi quotes in one post from multi posters......and so when I beleive I maybe doing that I paste...
Any help on this

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