Rateh

Usually I try to really work them out during the warmup. My goal being for them to be tired and sweaty by the end of it, having used arm muscles, stomach muscles, and leg muscles, as well as some sort of running or jumping jacks. Then we start the main part of class, which usually isn't that physically demanding. During the main part of the class my goal is for everyone to learn something new, or improve a lot on something that they already know. Sometimes if we have a lot to do that day, or if i just decided it, then our warm up is easy. And on occasion during the intermediate class, we warm up doing all beginner and intermediate kicks and strikes from a horse stance, after our general warm up. (six differnet kicks and sixteen blocks/strikes, 10 times each)

Good luck!!

Yes, I study and teach chun kuk do. We are not officially offiliated or anything however. I took two other arts previously, but both times had to quit when my family moved. I've been training in chun kuk do for about 5 and a half years now, and been teaching at the school for 5. I know it might seem odd, teaching only 6 months after joining, but i only taught the beginner kids in the beginning. The basics from my previous system were the same in this style.

What other things has ma helped you with? When I first started, I would kiah at a whisper. I always walked around looking at the ground, i was very shy, and very quiet. Now public speaking is nothing to me, I easily raise my voice whenever necesary. I look people in the eye, and talk to strangers in line at the grocery store. I think these are the most signifigant changes in me since starting martial arts. If you want a full list, however, i guess i can rack my brain to try n think of everything.

To be honestly I have always had poor posture, especially while sitting. I have now been doing karate for 9 years. My posture is still very bad... except when practicing karate. I guess it depends on if you want to improve your posture or not. As far as focus, yes martial arts has helped me with my focus, as well as many many other things. But not my posture.

As I know it, korean styles like tae kwon do, tie their belts by wrapping it around, with the hole of the square knot facing to the left. Japanese styles tie it starting in the center, and end with the hole facing to the right. I could be wrong though...

Reading this reminded me of some gi troubles we have at our dojo, perhaps one of you could help.. Nearly every childs gi on our dojo has pants that are too long. Most of the kids have to roll up the pantlegs every day, and sometimes in the middle of class. Is this standard with kids gi's? Or is it the brand we buy? TBH I'm not sure what brand that is, but they are black lightweight(student?) karate gi's.

When i teach hook/heel/reverse round kick, I find it is easier for them to learn by kicking a target (such as a clapper), or even someones palm (lightly ofc). Perhaps this will help. Also it might help if you think of it as making a small circle(or part of a circle) in the air with your foot. A common problem is also to drop the knee, try and keep your knee up and facing sideways, not downwards. Another tip might be, when you throw the kick, make sure your body is sideways, otherwise it won't come out right. Maybe one of these will help.

I think your greatly underestimating children. Children are very capable of learning and having good skills. But you are right about motivation. I agree with speaking with the current instructor. PowerofOne I think you need to talk with her, and tell her your concerns. It would be better for everyone if she was still their instructor, that is, if you could help her to teach them better. Remember some of the students may be very attatched to her and a change of instructor, especially to one who was more strict, would be difficult for the students to handle. I'm not saying they couldnt, but it might cause some of your kids to drop out.

Since no one else has mentioned it i thought id add...practice. The amount of time spent in the dojo means nothing if u dont practice outside of that. If you really want to go anywhere in martial arts, you have to practice regularly on your own. Class time is for learning, home time is for practicing.

Sparring is required for testing starting at blue belt in our dojo. Though if you are good opponent for someone who is testing, you may spar during an earlier test, but it wont count towards your passing or failing.

No, the question was directed at red dawn, but thanks anyways. We also have a beginners program, but it is open enrolment, so anyone can begin it at any point in time. Im assuming the intro program has a set date when it is, and that was why i had hte question. If a student comes lookin at taking karate at our dojo, they can show up the next day and try the beginners program. Im wondering if these students would show up for it if we said "hey come back in two weeks for an intro", rather than immediately getting to try it out.

Out of curiosity, do you find that most students show up for their intros? Or do the tend to sign up and then not appear come intro day?

"martial arts isnt about putting people down, its about picking them up"

i disagree with the statements about pushups. In our school push-ups are used regularly. Not so much as a punishment, but as a reminder to the student that the behavior is not allowed. For instance leaning on the wall might get 10 push-ups. Now ten pushups isnt very much, and hence serves to remind the student to act appropriatly. Push-ups isnt treated as a stern discipline, and so students are able to quickly perform their pushups, and get right back into the fun of the class. It should also be noted that the students never complain about doing pushups for warm up, and many of our students come to enjoy them. (these students tend to not need to be disciplined by pushups anymore) I think it is more the matter of the attitude of the instructor. The instructors demeaner decides whether pushups will be a negative or positive disciplinary action. Students who are disciplined with pushups should not feel resentful after the fact. Once the push-ups are finished, they should immediately rejoin the class as though nothing occured. (unless the student is continuously misbehaved, or the action is such that a few words of lecture need to be stated) On another note, discipline means nothing if the person being disciplined doesnt know the reason behind it. With young students especially, i make sure to explain it.

ill also point out that it is entirely her decision whether or not to continue training. I.E. No pressure on ur part to stick with it...

when i first started teaching private lessons. i asked the head instructor/owners permission, then put some fliers where all of the other information papers are. Basically said im teaching private lessons, how much they were (we all charge $20/hr, so i did the same, ofc also discussed with head instructor), and what i would teach. For instance im not going to teach private lessons in sparring, because i dont consider myself at a point where i would be worth 20 dollars for that. this is just what i did, dont know if it will work for you or not.

i have no idea didnt stay long enough to find out

the only tournments ive been to were open i really enjoyed them one bad point though, is the judges not that there is anythign wrong with them... but their style background can affect their decisions for instance i competed in a traditonal forms devision, and most of the judges were shorin ryu (sp), so the competetors that were of the same style tended to get higher scores the bigger tournments do tend to do very well in creating good divisions however with different ranks, sex's, ages, and types of style in terms of sparring, there is usually point and continuous, devided with male/female, by age, rank, and if there are enough competetors weight as well

Black belt means u are the master of your martial art you can now defeat anyone in a fight you should go out and test your skills!!! congratulations!!!! ps. Sarcasm in use

kinda related my sensei used to go off on tangents...well constantly but whenever we did partner drills, it was especially obvious the first person would end up doing like 30 kicks on the first leg(he would count to ten, but constantly lose his place ), and like 15 on the second the second person would end up with like 10 on the first, and 5 on the second after a bit we caught on

im guessing he has the black belt as a picture under his name also guessing, that he doesnt know how u get rank in this forum, and is trying to "correct" it

in that case obstical course is a favorite in my dojo ofc MOST of it involves techniques of some kind, whether it be a takedown, roll, strikes to a bag, whatever another favorite is "Kata Races" pic two students and a kata the students have to do the kata as fast as tehy can, and whoever gets through first wins Sparring games such as "king of the mountain" and "team sparring" recently i have begun to use games with a group ie: make two or more groups of students, and assign a leader set the teams against eachother in various tasks one of my favorites is to assign each team a cirtain number of pushups, jumping jacks, etc thats the total number the team has to do, and the captain decides who will do what so if one person is really good at pushups, they may be doing most of it this is especially good for team work, because if one person has finished their part, they help any student who has not completed theirs, until the entire team has done all of the warmups alloted also, when i let them do an obstical course, i make THEM set it up, and take it down this also forces them to work together as a team i give htem a time limit to take it down and have everything back in its proper place, for every second over, the entire team gets 1 pushup fyi, i use these with the students aged 5-12, but i dont see why u cannot adapt them for older students

i moved twice in the first 4 years of my training spent months off both times atm i am currently not training, due to a undiagnosed condition, they believe it is my heart, but i cannot afford the tests, and it my breathing has simply become too bad to do any training to keep my skills sharp atm i teach as to two weeks, thats not really an issue ive taken two weeks off plenty of times practiced kata etc in hotel rooms (hard to do, they dont have much floor space usually :S) mostly just practice when u can, if ur afraid ull get rusty

we call a "hook kick" a heel kick though occasionally me or another instructor will call it a hook kick, and the kids get confused the kids also get confused if i say "round" instead of "roundhouse" kick