Warming up 5 year olds

[gojuchad]

sometimes we will play a version of dodge ball with the kids. They must reamain in a fighting stance (neiko dachi/cat stance) and only move from side to side. Use very big soft balls so that no one gets hurt of course. Try it the kids will love it and they will work up a sweat while doing it.

[47MartialMan]

Yeah-I witnessed another school with the "dodge ball". One kid tripped and sprained his ankle-bad.

[AngelaG]

Yeah-I witnessed another school with the "dodge ball". One kid tripped and sprained his ankle-bad.

 

*shrug* Accidents happen. I remember as a kid I always had scabby knees and elbows. It was part of life. Thank god in those days no one felt the need to wrap us all up in cotton wool - we were allowed to be children. I feel sorry for kids today, the nanny state means that they really don't get the chance to be childlike, and explore the boundaries and learn for themselves.

 

Two shattered arms, a broken toe and numerous smaller injuries as a kid but would I change it? Nope!

 

Then I grew up got into football - dislocated shoulder. Karate - broken ribs and lots of sprains and bruises! It's all a part of life. Life is for living, we get plenty of rest when we're dead!

[47MartialMan]

Yeah, too bad most non-martial artists, like landlords, think that people are going to be in there busting themselves and the building.

[AngelaG]

We do Martial Arts, not dance, not aerobics. There is always the possibilty of injury. Any decent dojo should minimise injury so that it is still a rare occurence but everyone who trains should realise that there is the chance (however small) that they may go home busted up!

[47MartialMan]

Hmmn, some schools think they do martial arts, when they teach dance and aerobics. Funny, how some martial art schools use playground toys and non-martial art drills?

[47MartialMan]

Hmmn, some schools think they do martial arts, when they teach dance and aerobics. Funny, how some martial art schools use playground toys and non-martial art drills?

[AngelaG]

Hmmn, some schools think they do martial arts, when they teach dance and aerobics. Funny, how some martial art schools use playground toys and non-martial art drills?

 

I couldn't comment on that. I've never trained at a school that has taken that view of it (not that I'm saying it doesn't exist)

[RavenX]

The head instucter at our school doesn't allow us to play games with the kids >> he's like: "This is karate, not playtime!"

[AngelaG]

I have nothing against games for the children at the beginning of the lesson as a warm up, or at the end as a treat if they have worked hard during the lesson. But they are always educational games that teach them to react, or avoid getting hit, or something else which will add to their overall karate training. The rest of the time they train in normal karate, but it must be understood that children are not mini adults and their concentration spans will not match that of an adult class!