Top 5 Things to Teach in a Children’s Class

By Tracy Warrener Van Kruistum

Teaching Martial Arts to children is probably one of the most rewarding experiences an instructor can have during their career. The idea that we are at the front of a class filled with children ranging in ages from as young as 3 yrs old up to teens is a very important responsibility. Their safety, disciplining them, teaching them how to protect themselves, helping them to find their courage and self confidence are just some of the many lessons we have to consider when we teach a class. As we already know, the Martial Arts improves almost every aspect of our life. Everything from the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual side. It helps us to develop ourselves into strong, confident and balanced individuals. The role of a Sensei or an Instructor must be taken very seriously and it is our job to bring out the best in our students. Here are 5 things to teach in a Children’s class that will help to bring out the best in your students.

Quality

We’ve all seen the sloppy stances, blocks and punches that kids can have or the lack of effort that many kids have when they train. Whether its them being tired or just not trying their best while practicing, we must teach them to have quality and to recognize it within themselves. Teach kids to have quality stances, blocks, kicks, punches etc. DO NOT let them get away with sloppiness! Teach them how to have a black belt attitude when they train. One thing that I did when teaching that always helped kids to learn this, is I brought all of the black belts and junior black belts to the front of the class and had them face the kids. Sometimes they did a kata, sometimes, they did sparring, but I usually had them demonstrate good old fashioned basics. Basics with so much power, intensity, strength, high quality techniques that even the parents were knocked off their chairs! Kids need to be shown what quality is. It is our job as an instructor to show them what quality is, teach them quality and demand their very best each time they practise and do not let them get lazy with their quality.

Respect, Compassion, Gratitude

These tenants of the Martial Arts are extremely important to teach kids. Teaching them about Respect, Compassion and Gratitude are at the fundementals of most martial arts. Most kids have no clue what they are or how to have them and demonstrate them. Make a point each class of talking about them so that new students get them and the older students have it drilled into their minds as well. We are not just responsible for teaching the self defence, but also to help them to become a martial artist of life and to be someone who practices these tenants on the dojo floor and outside of the dojo as well.

Perseverance

There are so many ways this can be taught within a children’s class. From pushing them physically to do 10 more sit ups, to 5 more laps, to timed sparring that pushes them to their limits. Having open dialogue about how important it is not to give up! Teach them that when they can move past the pain, the tiredness, the disappointment, the lack motivation, that this is when they become strong and learn perseverance. Make sure to use positive reinforcement when teaching this as children thrive off of this.

Patience

This is a tough one for many people, not just kids. We live in such a instant gratification society. We can literally have or do almost anything at a click of a button. Learning patience makes us good listeners, compassionate with others and ourselves. One part of the martial arts that helps teach patience is the stripe and belt testings. When children understand that they have to wait a required time limit to achieve a belt or a stripe and learn the techniques for that next level they learn to appreciate the goal even more when they achieve it. Children do not need to be pushed through stripes and belt levels quickly in order for them to stick with their marital art. Do not give into this either! By sticking to the timeline and helping a child to realize that its not how many stripes or how high your belt is or how young you are to achieve a certain rank, but the quality of a martial artist you are, and the lessons you learn each and every class is what really counts. Many schools grade young students to black belt way too early- in my opinion. The black belt is not where the training ends, but where it begins. Children need to be taught this as well. When a child is taught patience through the belt process they learn to have patience in other areas of their lives as well. This will make them good martial artists in all ways.

Have Fun!

Yes, the martial arts are to be a disciplined, sometimes militant art which teaches self defence. However, teaching how to have fun while learning a martial art is very important in children’s classes. Use fun ways of teaching a technique with training aids, funny nicknames, high energy music, and lots of high 5’s. This will keep them coming back and will make sure they learn the techniques and recall them and keep them focused on you while you teach. Gear the class to be fun and filled with learning at the same time.

These are just some ways to help ensure you are developing well rounded martial artists who will hopefully make a life long commitment to their art. Parents will love the fact that their kids are learning things like Quality, Preserving, Patience, Respect, Compassion, Gratitude all while having fun through the martial arts. Remember, the things we teach these kids will stick with them their entire lives, so make sure they are strong and positive lessons that will impact their lives great ways.

Tracy Warrener has been fortunate to have been raised within the Martial Arts since the age of 4 years old and is a 4th Degree Black Belt in Goju Ryu Karate. She has had the opportunity to study with some amazing Martial Artists. Sensei Richard Kim, Sensei Peter Urban, Professor Don Jacob, Sensei Jim Wilson, Professor Wally Jay, just to name several. Of course her main Sensei is her father, Sensei Don Warrener. Throughout the 40 plus years of her involvement in the Martial Arts, she has worked her way from being a student of the martial arts to a Martial Arts Sensei ,teaching hundreds of students. She has ran and managed martial arts schools teaching students of all ages, worked within the community teaching at fitness centres, schools, businesses and Women’s Shelters, the benefits of Karate. One the causes close to her heart is teaching and empowering young girls and women the importance of self defence and awareness. Her program called Look Strong! Act Strong! Be Strong! focuses on easy self defence techniques and mind self defence techniques. In 2013 she was awarded The Silver Lifetime Achievement Award in the Masters of the Martial Arts Hall of Fame in California for her contribution to Women in the Martial Arts. She is also a Certified Reflexologist and Reiki Master. She has starred in three of her own DVDs produced by Rising Sun Productions on Reiki, Reflexology and her Look Strong ,Act Strong ,Be Strong Self Defence Program. tracy.warrenerentertainment@gmail.com

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