Our Methods for Martial Arts Class

 

Martial Arts Class is fun-filled and designed to captivate a child’s interest and imagination. This is accomplished through engaging, interactive, innovative curriculum and purposeful play! Children discover, explore, imitate, experience, and create rhythm and music with their body.  The style of martial arts we teach is Mikio Surai.  This style is a mixed martial arts under the umbrella of 8 different styles:  Tae Kwondo, Karate, Jiu-Jitsu, Hapkido, Aikido, Kenpo... just to name a few.  

 

In all our age groups we learn the bow-in and bow-out creeds that incorporates many of the moral law's code of conduct in them.  So, the children are learning them and what they mean and how to apply them in their lives from the very start.

 

Preschool Martial Arts Classes are for students 3-6 and are both fun and engaging with developmentally appropriate activities:

 

For ages 3-6 in martial arts class, developing autonomy is a very important foundational task... learning how to govern oneself and be accountable for your actions.  It is through the practice of martial arts, in a safe environment, that the child will begin to learn what it is to have self-discipline and self-control.  The toddler consistently learns what it is to do well and to do the right thing, & to follow directions.  There are still many limitations in the child's physical abilities because they are just at the beginning stages.  They will have a lot of doubt in how to do things and will usually express it by saying, “I can't”.  That just means that they need someone to show them how.  Coordination is a very big challenge for this age group and martial arts is an aide that can assist them in conquering that challenge.  As they continue in martial arts class, they will find that they will be strengthened to do more, and more, physically while learning important life lessons of accountability for their actions.

 

Our martial arts class setting is perfect for the developing child to broaden his/her horizons in what they can do.  There are many different stimuli to keep the brain active and the mind interested in what is happening around them.  They begin to try new things, new techniques, new ways of doing things.  They are little explorers who don't need their wings to be clipped, but instead, need their wings untied so that they can soar and explore the possibilities of who and what they can be and do.

 

In Mikio Surai, for this age group we use tools such as punching targets where the children learn hand-eye coordination, aim, control, slow and smooth purposeful movements, etc;  We may use the noodles for the purpose of teaching aiming at specific points on the body without causing damage and playing the knee tapping game.  It is fun and the kids are learning to not just hit anywhere but to follow directions where specified while still having fun.  Also in learning to be honest when they've been tapped.  We may use bubbles for either punching or kicking while trying to stay in the correct body position.  This encourages multitasking, balance, focus, coordination, and memory function in dealing with the task at hand while the kids are having fun with the bubbles.  These are just to name a few fun tools that we use with this age group.

 

 

​School-Age Martial Arts Classes are for students ages 6-9. Students enrolled in this martial arts class will continue to establish a deeper & more complex root system for future martial arts study. The martial arts classes provide students with an introduction to a little more advanced martial arts, philosophies in dealing with life, and learning the importance of positive leadership. Students begin develop a strong physical foundation and proper martial arts technique:

 

For ages 6-9 in martial arts, it is important to have good high moral standards because it is important to be the best that we can be in all things.  Children will look at others for direction and leadership.  This is a heavy responsibility, but in a martial arts setting, we are a family and set high standards.  The understanding and accomplishment of these high standards isn't going to happen overnight.  Each child is in training in different ways, that they are able to receive, so that they learn these valuable moral codes of conduct over time.  As they see their peers doing the same thing, it makes such a big impact in their lives.  “As you behold... you become changed.”  Middle childhood can be a scary time to a child if they feel unaccepted or inferior to others.  In martial arts, we are family and all are accepted as such.  Therefore, that middle childhood student will have good role models to look up to and have a support system around them to allow them to be successful at whatever they put their minds to.

 

 

Older School-Age Martial Arts Classes are for students ages 10-19.  Students in this class will begin to gain more understanding, but most importantly, wisdom and application of their martial arts instruction in settings outside of the dojo as well.  They are truly beginning to learn that "Martial Arts is more than fighting, it's a lifestyle"... Our first philosophy that they learn verbally.

 

Ages 10-19 in martial arts class, because it is a training of not just the body, but also the mind and spirit, it can assist the adolescent in their confusion.  It can help to balance their equilibrium so that they are well-balanced and reach a point of homeostasis.  This is where their mind, body, spirit, & emotions can learn to work together instead of warring against each other.  Martial arts class can help to gain focus, mental strength, emotional control, and positive decision making.  The adolescent will continue changing day-by-day even through adulthood.  However, what their foundation, strengthening, self-discipline, self-control, values, etc. are is what will make that person who they will become.  Because all these things are a part of the training in each martial arts class, it is something that is consistent and will become an integral part of their lives and will help to form their characters to be law-abiding citizens, courageous, strong, compassionate, passionate, & leaders.

 

In Mikio Surai, for this age group, we us tools such as hand punching targets where the children learn better control for hand-eye coordination, precision, control, slow and smooth becoming fast and powerful with purposeful movements, etc;  We may use the inserts of the punching targets in a race for speed while remaining smooth and balanced.  We may use larger bags for kicking and adding power.  So, we may have a competition of who can kick the most in a set period of time.  This encourages speed while building up their leg muscles as they strive in using correct technique, correct body position, and correct purpose.  They also learn endurance so that even when they get tired, they don't just give up but to keep going to accomplish their set goal.  This encourages multitasking, balance, coordination, memory function, power, understanding of the different forces of a strike and how and when to use them.  These are just to name a few fun tools that we use with this age group.

 

 

Disciplined and Positive Learning Environment:

PJ's Martial Arts Classes are discplined, unique, and fun. The primary goal is to build up the student's character and body simultaneously so that they can be the best that they can be and protect themselves as well.  The students learn to work together as a team... or a martial arts family.  They learn how to help each other to do their best.  As the student continues they will discover some of their own weaknesses and begin to work on them to become strengths.  Teachers always try to minimize frustration and encourage accomplishments, both great and small!

 

 

Age Appropriate Learning:

 

Martial Arts Class lessons are planned to maximize learning and appeal to individual age groups through the use of many tools of work and play. Our lesson objectives and expectations are always based on the student’s cognitive, physical, and intellectual development as well as unique learning styles.  The following below are just some of what they learn:

 

 

• exploration & discovery through sensory experience

• activities focused on large and small muscle coordination

• partial and whole body movement, coordination & expression

• motion & moves recognition

• geography of the body

• sensory development

• creative activities & games