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Children and Ju-Jitsu

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Mobstarr

Spectator

45 posts

Friday 4th May 2007 at 22:07

Hi here, I'm new here. I was just wondering if any of you guys had any suggestions of any games or drills that I could use to teach young children (4-7) Ju-Jitsu but have fun at the same time. I've got my first proper teaching lesson next week and just wondered if you could offer some tips.

Regards
Mob$tarr

"Its not the chances we get in life, its what we do with them that matters"

2nd Dan Traditional Ju-Jitsu (Kensho Ryu & Kano Bushi Ryu)

"In the shadows, waiting for my time..."

www.pmaa.co.uk

Robsco

1319 posts

Friday 4th May 2007 at 23:25

I used to teach 3(!) to 14 year olds, I think really ya just need to keep it fun, and nothing more, don't worry too much about the martial arts, atleast at the start of the class.

The trick is to blend in the MA stuff in between the games.

Maybe a sumo fight with a few belts tied together, or simple races down the mats doing different strikes, etc.

Ensure you start with fun, and end with it, and try to do the forms/kata's, etc in between.

Don't end on something serious, cos that's the last thing they'll remember.

The Admin Guy

Robsco

1319 posts

Friday 4th May 2007 at 23:26

If your email address is valid, I'll send you over some stuff too which I'm sure you'll find usefull.

The Admin Guy

ninja9578

Regular

92 posts

Sunday 6th May 2007 at 22:32

I don't have an answer for you but I think that it's important to mention to be very careful with the joints of young children. They're aren't finished growing and an injury at that age could cripple them later on, I have a bad shoulder to prove it.

Blue Belt - Gracie JJ
3rd Degree Black Belt - Shorin Ryu
Red Belt w/ two stripes - Soo Bahk Do

Mobstarr

Spectator

45 posts

Monday 7th May 2007 at 21:26

Cheers Rob for the e-mail, some great advice there. As for the injury thing, I'm not gonna make the kids do anything that has a high injury risk to it, its all about them just having fun and hopefully learning something.

Well its my first lesson tomorrow night, I think I come up with a lesson plan that will keep them all entertained. Relay races I think are gonna be good, whilst incorporating some techniques into it, a guard passing games and to finish a good old game of Lions, I'll let y'all know how it goes!
Cheers for the advice!
Mob$tarr

"Its not the chances we get in life, its what we do with them that matters"

2nd Dan Traditional Ju-Jitsu (Kensho Ryu & Kano Bushi Ryu)

"In the shadows, waiting for my time..."

www.pmaa.co.uk

Robsco

1319 posts

Tuesday 8th May 2007 at 18:25

Games and fun are the way, it's just how you slip in the ju-jitsu into it without them even noticing they're training.

With some proper serious training too of course.

The Admin Guy

Mobstarr

Spectator

45 posts

Wednesday 9th May 2007 at 20:58

Well the lesson went well, nobody killed each other which is always a good sign. They particulary enjoyed the realay racing but they all learnt something which is good, thanks for the tips!

Mob$tarr

"Its not the chances we get in life, its what we do with them that matters"

2nd Dan Traditional Ju-Jitsu (Kensho Ryu & Kano Bushi Ryu)

"In the shadows, waiting for my time..."

www.pmaa.co.uk

tafster

Newbie

9 posts

Wednesday 6th June 2007 at 12:34

I've been training since I was 7 and classes were pretty much standard martial arts classes although i struggled for a while with being much smaller than everyone.

Decent games we did were bulldog but crawling and a 3 sec pin meaning elimination, joining belts and standing in a circle whilst someone whipped the belt in a circle (everyone jumps over, if you fail, you're out and the belt is slowly raised).

my favourite was using handheld punchbags on the floor and doing diving breakfalls over them. If you touched the bag you were out and then bags were added to increase the distance.

Ippon

Spectator

6 posts

Friday 17th August 2007 at 10:40

I'm was, and am still very small. I find it work to my advantage, because the suckers can't see you!