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[AmericanWerewolf]

As part of leadership training we have to turn in a lesson plan for the week consisting of five classes for the basic class ages 8-12 I haven't had too much of a problem putting classes together but I do have a slight hiccup in my execution Deshi explained to me that just because we in the adult class train like animals I can't expect to bring that same warrior mentality to the basic class and he is right I need to tone the workouts down a little and include more fun drills I try to interject them here and there but this week I ended up with a whole class and a half that I just couldn't do because the kids wouldn't be able to handle it.

My question is extended to the community both students and instructors alike
How would you design drills to increase the fun factor of going to class what
drills would you reccomend for younger children?

[sandman]

Here are a few that I remember from my training when I was a kid:

Warmup type drills:
shuttle runs - divide them into teams and have them race
partner stretches


Training drills:
Bull in the ring
Have them sit in a circle with one kid in the middle. Call out one of the other kids' names and that kid has to run in and start sparring with the one in the middle - give it maybe a 30 second time limit. At the end of the 30 seconds all the other kids have to vote who won (quickly...). Winner keeps fighting, loser sits down and you call the next name (probably want to put a limit on how many rounds each kid goes). OR you can just eliminate the voting thing and have every kid go a certain number of rounds before sitting down. You just have to make sure everyone gets a chance to be in the middle. Or shorten the time and have each kid end up fighting every one in the circle before its the next kid's turn to be in the middle. In that case, call out the new opponent's names randomly so that the one in the middle never knows where the next opponent is coming from.

Sumo wrestling
Form a circle and have two kids in the middle trying to push each other out sumo style - the lesson is to learn to get the center of gravity low and to use the other person's force against them. I used to love doing this one as a kid

Steal the flag
Two kids facing each other like they are going to spar, but they have a long ribbon hanging off their belts in the back. The goal is to steal the other kid's ribbon (flag). They can use their hands to block, and they have to use footwork both to protect their own flag and to get the other kid's flag

Kata with a twist
Just to force the kids to slow down and think during kata practice, throw some twists into it. If you normally always face a certain direction in the dojo doing kata practice, have them turn around and face a different direction. Another time have them do it with their eyes closed. Another time, change up some of the techniques in the kata - for example you'd tell them "everywhere in the kata where you usually do oi tsuki, now do a back fist and reverse punch" (for example). There are plenty of other twists you could use - you might even ask the kids to come up with some.

Those are just a few that I can think of off the top of my head - hope there is something in there you can use.

[ashiharakaicho]

Teaching Children

1. When children are properly introduced to the martial arts they develop life long loyalties that can be drawn upon when they become adults.

2. Children neither understand nor respond to the same things as adults. Therefore, the
teaching approach must be different. The teaching format must centre around FUN - FUN for the student - FUN for the parents and FUN for you. Otherwise, you'll go stark raving mad at the mere attempt to teach a front snap kick.

3. The day the parent starts to "force" the child to come to class is the day you begin to lose them as a student.

4. You must give praise and recognition to children. Even the child with two left feet can
do something well enough to be praise-worthy.

5. Most children will be brought to you because their parents believe that you can be an
influencing factor in their development. YOU ARE...AND YOU MUST NOT FORGET IT.

If at any time a child is hurt you must do several things:
1. Don't make a fuss over it - accept it as normal and request the same attitude from the parents.

2. Never tell the child, "Don't cry."

3. Reintroduce them to the cause of the injury as soon as possible but don't force it on them.

In conclusion, infinite patience and long-suffering will produce this most rewarding of human experiences. It seems almost unfair to take money from parents - but after all, you are a professional.

Make kids class (and even adults) FUN!
Try a variation on the "Simon-Says" game. Call out a hand or foot technique but add the game of "Simon-Says". For example you might call out the following techniques:
Simon-Says, low block
Simon-Says, middle punch
High punch (without saying "Simon-Says")
If any student moves, even the slightest, without hearing the "Simon-Says" command they must sit down. You play until there is only one student standing. This makes the techniques more fun to perform and improves the students' ability to listen, and think quickly. By the way, you can use any kind of command in-place of "Simon-Says". At our school, we say, "Senpai-Says".

Fun Drills and Games
Boredom is the biggest enemy of every martial arts teacher - your students' boredom and your own. Teaching classes every day, year after year can become monotonous quickly if you are not constantly searching for new teaching ideas, drills, games, exercises and techniques. Not only will your students be bored doing the same old drills, you will be bored teaching them over and over. To maintain an excited, active student body and keep yourself excited about teaching, you need a ready source of ideas and brain ticklers.

This section is meant to be just that. A resource that you can turn to while you are developing your lesson plans or just before you start a class. A quick reference guide packed with new ideas as well ideas you might have long forgotten or that may lead you to create your own games and drills.

Obstacle course
Making an obstacle course in the training hall is a great class starter for kids' classes. Don't let anyone stand around waiting in line - assign a time killing exercise like jumping jacks or running place between turns at a station. Some ideas for stations to keep everyone moving:

• Jump over a pile of kicking shields
• Crawl through a tunnel of kicking shields without touching them
• Jump over a series of heavy bags laid about two feet apart
• Kick or strike a hanging target, hanging bag or stand up heavy bag
• Weave around a line of hand targets
• Duck walk under a hanging heavy bag
• Look in the mirror and kiai loudly five times
• Roll between two kicking shields without touching them
• Block an " attack " by a blocker or foam wand
• Kick a paper cup off of the top of a standing bag
• Crawl under a stick balanced on two chairs
• Walk on a line on the floor (masking tape works well and removes easily after use)
• Hop over a belt laid on the floor to form a zig-zag course
Some stations may require an adult to reset or facilitate.

Whistle Drill
A more advanced variation of Simon Says is the whistle drill. The students spread out on the floor and you gives a command like "jumping jacks" and blows a whistle. The students do jumping jacks until the instructor blows the whistle again. The students must then freeze and not move. Then give another command and blow the whistle to signal the students to begin. Any student who moves between whistles is out and has to sit down. You may also try to trick students into moving by calling a technique, but not blowing the whistle. Any student who does the technique is out. For really tough students, you can talk to them, approach them, ask questions and try to distract them into to moving.

Random Attack and Defence
Students love to try out their self-defence skills in a realistic scenario. With group of intermediate or advanced students, have the students form a line (one behind the next) in front of you. As each student comes to the head of the line, throw an attack (for which they have learned a defence) at them quickly. Each student has a few seconds to react. Whether they successfully defend or not, their turn should end in less than 10 seconds and they return to the end of the line. Keep moving quickly and vary your attacks. This drill has many variations, some of them can get quite rough if you are not careful. Keep a tight reign on safety rules and have students wear protection gear if you think it is necessary.

Circle: Form a circle with one person in the middle as the defender and those forming the circle as attackers. Go around the circle and have each attacker enter the circle and attack the defender with an approved technique. (one that the defender has learned)

Numbered circle: Form a circle as above and give each person in the circle number. When you call out a number, that person should run into the circle and attack as above.

Advanced numbered circle: Call out two or three numbers at once so the defender has to cope with multiple attackers.

Anything goes circle: For advanced students, you can allow any type of attack (within safety precautions) and the defender has to defend drawing upon his or her knowledge, but not necessarily using a pre-formulated defence technique.

Timed circle: Call out a number and that person can play attacker for thirty seconds or one minute, launching a series of attacks against which the defender must defend.

Payback circle: Play any of the circle games above, but allow the defender to throw and attack at any one person on the outside of the circle when you call " payback ".

[AmericanWerewolf]

Thank you very much for the interesting ideas I will try to work them into future lesson plans.

[ashiharakaicho]

Originally Posted by AmericanWerewolf

Thank you very much for the interesting ideas I will try to work them into future lesson plans.

You welcome and some more ...

Sparring matches
Most schools have students face other for practice sparring. However, sparring with feedback can be more fun, not to mention very helpful in improving competition skills. Some fun ways to stage matches in class:

First point: Select two evenly matched students to face each other. At your command, they begin sparring. The first student to score a point continues on against another opponent and the loser sits down.

Challenge sparring. Two students face off for a short match in any format you choose. After the match, the loser sits down and the winner "challenges" any other student in the class.

Rotating matches. This drill is more suited to children than adults. Have a group of about ten kids face off in pairs and begin non-contact sparring on your command. Watch the group and call any points you see ("Johny, one point") as they are scored. You won't see everyone score every point, but try to catch each kid at least once. The kids will really work to get your attention. After a couple of minutes, have the group sit down to rest and call a new group.

Point tag. To practice speed and concentration rather than techniques, have a game of point tag. Give the students a goal like tagging the other persons left shoulder or belt knot. Each student has to protect his own target while trying to tag the other student's target area. Once a student is tagged, the match is over.

Counter sparring. Give points only for counterattacks. Each student takes turns initiating an attack for the other student to counter. Only successfully countered attacks score points.

Combination sparring. To develop combinations, give points only for the second, third or fourth technique in a combination.

Pointers when teaching fitness to children:

STAMINA: Children’s muscles cannot sustain anaerobic high-intensity work. Do not work them too hard and allow frequent active rest periods.

STRENGTH: It is not advisable to implement a formal strength training programme, though games can be used to accustom young muscles to increasing loads.

SPEED: Children lack the neuromuscular co-ordination needed to perform techniques quickly and with sufficient skill. Discourage full power techniques as these can damage tendons and ligaments.

SUPPLENESS: Most children have sufficient suppleness. Avoid heavy routines as these can cause severe damage to joints and ligaments.

AGILITY: Many children are clumsy, because they lack a fully developed neuromuscular system. Agility games are helpful in this regard.

SKILL: The student should not be pressurised to perform skilfully.