| Martial Arts Games have been one of the major | | | | minute or two, but a martial art game is something |
| building blocks in developing our youngest martial art | | | | fun for them to enjoy and this is really important. |
| students. Often when I mention this to Instructors | | | | It's important for two main reasons. Firstly, they are |
| they give me an odd look and I can tell that they | | | | having fun but they are still learning how to apply |
| think I'm pulling their leg. Some have questioned me | | | | their new skills against other students. Secondly they |
| about weakening the martial art lessons or | | | | often have so much fun playing these martial art |
| compromising standards to be more commercial. | | | | games in class that they will teach them to their |
| I can understand these points of view from | | | | friends at school or meet up with other students |
| someone that hasn't seen the martial art games we | | | | outside of class to play them in their own time. |
| use in our training sessions. I know many instructors | | | | I'm sure you know how hard it is to get a young |
| (sad to say) use games as a filler to pad out the | | | | student to practice their techniques outside the dojo. |
| time for a lesson. Obviously someone doing this is | | | | The reason is obvious, unless a student is really |
| guilty of the statements I have been accused of but | | | | dedicated and driven to improve then they are not |
| martial art games can be used to compliment the | | | | going to spend their spare time doing techniques and |
| theme of your lesson plan for the night and can | | | | katas and martial art drills by themselves in the yard. |
| dramatically improve the learning ability for young | | | | But if they can get some friends together and play a |
| students. | | | | new game with them, then you are onto a winner. |
| Every lesson plan should have a main theme. It may | | | | I'm sure you can just imagine the improvements that |
| be blocking, kicking, striking, single leg takedowns, | | | | you would see in your students if they were |
| sweeps... you get the idea... there should be a solid | | | | spending and extra couple of hours practicing their |
| focus for each lesson. Now when you know what | | | | skills in between your formal lessons. If you teach |
| skill you plan to teach the students you can select | | | | them twice a week for an hour per lesson then they |
| some martial art games that will enhance the lesson | | | | are doing about 90 hours training in a year. Now if |
| rather than detract from it. | | | | you can get them to play some martial art games |
| As an example if you are focusing on blocking tonight | | | | with their friends a few times a week you could |
| then you can add some games like 'The Mummies | | | | easily get them to do an additional 135 hours a year |
| Return' or 'Block Around The Clock' so that the kids | | | | training. That's more training than their formal lessons. |
| can practice their blocks on live moving attackers in a | | | | Another great thing to teach the students is Mini |
| controlled way. Everyone gets involved and has a | | | | Challenges. These only take a minute to teach but |
| great time but they are also learning how to apply | | | | you can show them a mini challenge and then set |
| the skills you have just taught them. | | | | them a goal to reach before the next lesson. This is |
| The other great thing about using martial arts games | | | | a great way to get them to push themselves to the |
| in your lessons is that the kids generally think they | | | | next level. |
| are just a game. They don't normally look at what | | | | I hope that I have given you enough inspiration to |
| they are doing and see that you are teaching them | | | | test out some games in your next lesson. The |
| perform their martial art skills. The game works | | | | important thing is to use good quality games that |
| better than just doing a martial art drill. A drill is a | | | | reinforce what you are teaching the kids. |
| repetitive exercise that tends to bore kids after a | | | | |