Karate exercises for children

[LSc]

Hi

I would like to improve the karate lessons for our children’s class and make it more inspiring and fun. So I was searching the net to see what I could find. I bought the eBook 50 Kids Karate Games and find many of the exercises useful. I still would like to find a way, to make the kata and kihon easier to understand and remember. Does anybody here have some good ideas on how to do that?

I appreciate all feedback.

[Wastelander]

I'm not sure what drills are in the ebook you purchased, so I apologize if there is nothing new here, but these are some that work well with the kids I have taught:

Karate dodgeball--throw pads at them to block or strike

Basics races--who can get across the mat fastest with their reverse punch from a front stance, for example.

Basics relays--make teams (with names like The Cranes, The Tigers, The Dragons, etc.) and have them do relay races with their basics.

Monster in the middle--students circle around you and have to block when you try to hit them on top of the head with a pad, and anyone who gets hit is out.

Clothespin sparring--everyone has a clothespin on the front of their uniform, and they have to take their opponent's pin without losing their own.

Belt sumo--partners stand in strong stances and each holds onto the end of a slack belt, and when you say go they have to try to pull their partner off balance.

Obstacle course--set up cones and pads to make an obstacle course they have to go through, and have people set up to try to hit them with pads along the way so they have to be ready to defend.

Haunted house--set up "walls" like a maze (hanging dark plastic sheeting works fine) and put punching bags in random places for them to hit, then have a few people hidden in the maze to jump out and attack so the students have to defend.

[sensei8]

I'm not sure what drills are in the ebook you purchased, so I apologize if there is nothing new here, but these are some that work well with the kids I have taught:

Karate dodgeball--throw pads at them to block or strike

Basics races--who can get across the mat fastest with their reverse punch from a front stance, for example.

Basics relays--make teams (with names like The Cranes, The Tigers, The Dragons, etc.) and have them do relay races with their basics.

Monster in the middle--students circle around you and have to block when you try to hit them on top of the head with a pad, and anyone who gets hit is out.

Clothespin sparring--everyone has a clothespin on the front of their uniform, and they have to take their opponent's pin without losing their own.

Belt sumo--partners stand in strong stances and each holds onto the end of a slack belt, and when you say go they have to try to pull their partner off balance.

Obstacle course--set up cones and pads to make an obstacle course they have to go through, and have people set up to try to hit them with pads along the way so they have to be ready to defend.

Haunted house--set up "walls" like a maze (hanging dark plastic sheeting works fine) and put punching bags in random places for them to hit, then have a few people hidden in the maze to jump out and attack so the students have to defend.

Solid post!!

[LSc]

Thank you very much Wastelander. The drills in the book I bought are of the same kind, but apart from the dodgeball, those you mention are new to me. Wery usefull - I thank you for that.

While learning to train my hunting dog, I learned to use a technik called back- chaining. Now I wont compare children with dogs ;0) but I was wondering if I could use the same technik for learning a kata.

The idea is: You split the kata up in smaller parts and start teaching the last part. Then you take the second last part and the last part together, then the third last part with the others and so on.

I haven't tried it out yet though.

[bushido_man96]

I would teach the forms in order, front to back. But teach in segments. Three or four move segments are easiest, and they'll put them together after steady reps.

[Evil Dave]

It all depends upon the age group of the kids, if their too young they don't need to be doing full kata. I like the different games, listed here and many others. One that I like is balloon kicking, where you toss a balloon and the kid tries to kick it while in the air. Another is the turkish getup with a plastic cup with water in the cup ~ don't spill as you get up and down.

[andym]

turkish getup with a plastic cup with water in the cup ~ don't spill as you get up and down.

They don't call you Evil Dave for nothing ! LOL

[MasterPain]

Thank you very much Wastelander. The drills in the book I bought are of the same kind, but apart from the dodgeball, those you mention are new to me. Wery usefull - I thank you for that.

While learning to train my hunting dog, I learned to use a technik called back- chaining. Now I wont compare children with dogs ;0) but I was wondering if I could use the same technik for learning a kata.

The idea is: You split the kata up in smaller parts and start teaching the last part. Then you take the second last part and the last part together, then the third last part with the others and so on.

I haven't tried it out yet though.

With the dogs, the end result would be staying treed or holding point. The end result needs reinforced the most, so this makes sense. Kata is sequential, so it would be better to teach in segments from the beginning.

[ShoriKid]

Sensei says is an old favorite. Simon says with karate techniques.

Races, similar to Wastlander, but with a bear crawl the length of the mats, a set number/combination of techniques and bear crawl back. Change up the technique and the exercise to get down the mats.

Medicine ball races, carried from corner to corner/end to end on the mats. Think of hot potato with the kid's split into two teams, whoever gets caught with the medicine ball when you call time is out. Conditioning and strengthening their bodies without even knowing it!

Side shuffle. Hands in high guard, side shuffle around the mat. Instructor in the middle with a padded baton, a few whacks and jabs as they pass to keep their hands up. Call to switch directions often, add a sprawl with each direction change if you have space. Lateral movement, maintaining guard switching direction. All good things.

[LSc]

With the dogs, the end result would be staying treed or holding point. The end result needs reinforced the most, so this makes sense. Kata is sequential, so it would be better to teach in segments from the beginning.

Aye MasterPain - you've got a point there. Thanks!

Is a great help to hear all the different games, I look forward to try them out this week.