New to teaching need drills for 4,5,&6 year olds

[liquiddiamonds91]

i have just started teaching our ninja class and need some ideas on fun drills.

thanks

[bushido_man96]

You should be able to find some ideas here: http://www.karateforums.com/what-are-some-good-drills-vt30512.html

[marie curie]

There are a lot of wonderful kids drills here

http://www.karateforums.com/what-are-some-useful-games-for-kids-vt26087.html

[Johnlogic121]

With young kids, drills can't be too complex for execution or too complicated in terms of the number of steps. I would recommend the kinds of drills where you combine "three initial things" with "three other things" in all nine combinations, and after you are confident that your kids can do this, you can get them started on these patterns and let them run throuhg ten repetitions of each combination on their own. Thus, you could let them start with an "upper area block," "middle area block," or "lower area block" and go to one of these three: "solar plexus punch," "uppercut," or "frontal groin kick." You can also challenge them to do all 24 combinations of four things done in every possible seqeunce of those four things. For this latter drill, it might be best to prompt them for each variation as you run them through it. This can be a great way to use time in class, because you expose the kids to offensive and defensive combinations and they can all work on them somewhat easily. Good luck!

[marie curie]

Here also

http://www.karateforums.com/need-ideas-for-kids-summer-camp-vt31625.html?highlight=games

[yingampyang]

Welcome to the forums! , i have many classes of small kids , and i have seen the above sites mentioned. You should look at thoese sites they will help you alot.

[Senseimurphy]

Once they start learning techniques I like to play "sensei says" with the kids. It makes them copy my form, and really keeps them on their toes.

We also play th"running game" in the begining of class, right after stretching. It's a great game for building concentration in kids. We set up two of the square hand targets (although you could use anything) on each end of the floor, making a sort of track. The kids run around the track as fast as they can (now they are getting some good exercise and getting rid of some of that extra energy that keeps them from paying attention later ) Before they start running they all find a spot around the circle and freeze. We go over 4 words that are used in the game. 2 that count and 2 that dont. When I say RUN, they run around the track as fast as they can. When I say FREEZE they freeze as fast as they can in whatever goofy position they land in, some of them are hysterical! The two words that dont count are, GO and STOP. If I say either of thoes words the kids ignore them and keep doing what ever they are supposed to, either running or freezing. If they move or stop when they're not supposed to they are out and have to sit in the middle between the two pads while the rest of the group keeps running around them. I have acctually had school teachers and parents tell me what an improvement their kids have had with there listening skills and how much better they pay attention in class, and I like to attribute most of that to this game.

[Patrick]

Hello,

We removed a post from this thread, in error. It is quoted below. I apologize for the confusion.

Thanks,

Patrick

i have just started teaching our ninja class and need some ideas on fun drills.

thanks

As far as teaching children to REALLY defend themselves is concerned: Team OneDragon has some AWESOME materials on their "Play As The Way" Dvd's.

You can find them here, if you are interested:

http://www.onedragon.com/prod_paw_video.shtml

[Prostar]

I always kept a bag of balloons in my bag. Every once in a while you walk into a room, see twenty kids there and not one brain active. At least it seems that way. At that point I would pull the balloons out, enlist the parents who "thought" they were just going to watch, and have them blow up the balloons.

After that, use your imagination. My favorite was to tell them to keep the balloon off the floor, no hands allowed. The kids liked the races the best.

The only problem was that the kids ended up loving the balloon thing too much and kept asking for it. Hmmm, was that a bad thing?

[joesteph]

I always kept a bag of balloons in my bag. . . . I would pull the balloons out, enlist the parents who "thought" they were just going to watch, and have them blow up the balloons. . . .

My favorite was to tell them to keep the balloon off the floor, no hands allowed. . . .

The only problem was that the kids ended up loving the balloon thing too much and kept asking for it.

I love it, Prostar. The parents are now "doing karate" with their children. Do you give each a white belt as they get dizzy blowing up the balloons? Keep the balloon off the floor--but no hands allowed. There must be a lot of "screaming" with excitement as the children get into it.

The kids keep asking for the balloon thing again? Well, the key word here is "kids," so it's expected.