Paul M. Jerard Jr. asked:


In this continuing series, let’s address more issues and frequently asked questions that concern parents who seek to enroll their child in a martial arts program. The first question in this part is possibly the most important one of all.

How do I find the right martial arts teacher for my kids?

You will know when you have a face-to-face meeting and observe him or her teach a martial arts class. The chemistry between a prospective martial arts teacher and you should be good.

After all, your child is supposed to learn courtesy, respect, self-discipline, goal setting, and many more life skills from his or her martial arts instructor. If the martial arts teacher you are considering displays none of the above-mentioned qualities, please continue to shop around.

It makes no difference if your child is learning Karate, Jujitsu, Aikido, Judo, Tae Kwon Do, or Kung Fu, when the teacher is not a good role model. You don’t need to expose your children to hazards or questionable characters in order for them to learn martial arts. The martial arts school philosophy, and the instructors, should meet your standard – never settle for less.

Are you looking for discipline, academic improvement, life skills, tournament competition, self-defense, or a positive activity? Martial arts studios are not created equally. A life skills school may not meet the needs of a competitive parent or child. A “tournament school” that teaches Sport Karate, Sport Jujitsu, or enters many competitions, may be lacking in life skills and so forth.

This is not meant to take away the value of any aspect in martial arts training, but to make you, as a parent, aware that the emphasis will be different from one type of school to another. Also, the self-defense aspect will be taught differently within each martial arts school. Some martial arts schools teach more of one technique such as: punching, kicking, joint locks, sweeps, and throws.

At our wellness center in North Providence, Rhode Island, we teach all of those aspects, and we also teach self-defense through communication. For example: Wouldn’t it be better to prevent a physical conflict by talking it out? If a child is fully capable of defending himself or herself, why should he or she pursue a physical fight?

As adults, we know that the diplomatic approach to a physical conflict will not always work, but it is worth a try. Our children need to look at social skills, awareness, and courtesy as survival tools. Whether they are walking down a street, or entering the workplace, these skills are extremely important.

Know your goals and your child’s needs. Please make sure your reasons for enrolling your son or daughter in martial arts classes are sound. Martial arts for your child, is his or her personal endeavor. You can share in the feeling of accomplishment by being supportive and watch them grow to be successful. Success is one of the most important gifts we can give to our children.

The ideal martial arts instructor should have knowledge of sports medicine and CPR training. This may be one of the reasons why serious injuries are rare. Make sure that the safety of each child is a priority with the martial arts school you choose.

Some parents may feel I play it too safe within a karate class, but they have not seen a child knocked unconscious, a broken nose, or loss of blood, in my school. When I was a Sport Karate coach, referee, and judge, I saw all of those things in tournaments, and children were all wearing protective equipment.

Therefore, safety precautions are a very important factor, when deciding which martial arts school you should choose for your child.

© Copyright 2005 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications



Jessie

Ted Hanulak asked:


People often argue over which martial art is the most effective martial art. Generally that goes along with whatever is most popular in pop culture at that time. There was a time that people thought Kung-Fu as the best martial art because of Bruce Lee or Karate because of Chuck Norris or now Jujutsu because of the UFC. The secret is not which martial art is best, the secret lies in how the student trains in that martial art, which ever martial art.

 

You must train realistically in order for the martial art to have any street self defense value. This means forget about stopping a strike an inch before its target. It is about striking through the target. Many martial arts training have attacks that are unrealistic. The striking distances are off, the attacks are lame at best. When you are first learning a technique you of course will practice the technique in slow motion in order to get the mechanics down. Once this occurs, the attacks must be taken to the next level. The attack must be full force. Yes, this means that if the defender makes a mistake, he will get hit hard and possibly hurt. This is the best way to practice. You get a legitimate feel for being attacked for real. If you are worried about getting hurt in training then you shouldn’t be studying a martial art for self defense.

 

Now insert which ever martial art you like. There are advantages to ground fighting, kicking, throwing, etc. This is where the uniqueness of each martial art comes in. But the attacks will be the same. The attacks should be like street attacks. We should not tailor the attacks to compliment each martial art style. That is a mistake. Remember, it is not the martial art itself that is best but how the martial artist trains in that system.



Joe

Paul M. Jerard Jr. asked:


There are many myths about martial arts training, and the general public accepts some as fact. In the following article, I have outlined general guidelines, and precautions, for parents who are considering enrolling their child, or children, into martial arts.

Below, I have listed some common issues and questions that parents often ask about martial arts for their children. Also, you will be much more informed about the benefits of martial arts, the structure with a martial arts school, and know what to realistically expect.

What should I be looking for in a martial arts school? Safety comes as a first priority for parents who seek martial arts instruction for their children. Here are a number of key factors to consider:

Is safety equipment used when children are performing exercises and drills that require contact? This is especially important when children are sparring in martial arts. In many martial arts schools, sparring equipment is required, or the child cannot spar. The number of injuries resulting from sparring in Karate, Kung Fu, and Tae Kwon Do is surprisingly low in comparison to many league sports.

Never the less, I once had a father pull his son out of our martial arts school because he found a karate studio that would let his son “fight” without protective equipment. In our school, it is mandatory to wear martial arts equipment for the safety of the students. Sparring equipment has come a long way, so why not use it?

The flooring surface should match the martial art. If take downs, sweeps, and throws are required, there should be some kind of matted floor available. Many of the state-of-the-art martial arts schools have a floor surface specifically designed for martial arts. It makes no sense to have anyone throw a classmate on a hard floor, with the type of flooring available, as this can result in long-term injuries.

Can parents watch Karate classes?

Let’s put it this way, if you cannot watch your child practice karate, or any other martial art, you should find another school. I can appreciate the fact that some martial arts instructors don’t want to deal with interfering parents. This is the reason for rules and signs.

Remember the “hockey dad” incident? There are a few people who, through their own conduct, create rules for the rest of us. However, you are the parent and are entitled to see your child train in karate or any martial arts class.

Fire exits, fire extinguishers, and someone who monitors visitors, as they enter a karate studio full of children, should be standard features. We have three fire exits and one main entrance, in our studio, but only one door is used for an entrance. Kids understand security because they see the same precautions in elementary school.

Also, watch out for poles in the middle of the room. Adults will spot them, but an excited child in a karate class may forget and end up crashing into one. Make sure that you feel secure about the studio, surroundings, rules, and the staff before you make a decision to have your child take martial arts classes.

© Copyright 2005 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications



Roberto

Muna wa Wanjiru asked:


While there are many ways that people can try to keep in shape they will need various items to help them. For martial arts the items that you will use are ones that have been used for many centuries. To perform all of your martial arts moves with fluid grace you will need to have access to martial arts training supplies. These supplies should be used with the martial arts discipline in mind.

You will find that each martial arts form has different styles and movements. For this reason the martial arts training supplies are geared towards this. The first item that is needed in any type of martial arts is that of the uniform. Next might be various martial arts weapons.

While these are the basic martial arts training supplies you will find that there are variations. These variations are based around the type of martial arts that you are taking part in. Now while getting these supplies is easy you will need to take care of these items so that they last for quite some time.

The many different types of martial arts training supplies are needed to help you learn different forms of martial arts. You will find these supplies in stores which sell martial arts products. You will need to see which of these training supplies are used commonly in your training sessions.

With the help and advice of your instructor you will learn more about the different martial arts training supplies. You should think about getting more experience in using these training products. Having the hands on experience will allow you to decide which of these are more of benefit to your training.

When you feel that you are ready to explore the different martial arts training supplies you might want to ask your instructor to help guide you in the right direction. With their help you will not only know what training supplies to buy but also the best way to set up a training room. By using this advice and getting only the martial arts training supplies that you need you will be ready to commence your at home personal training.

Now at first you might feel that you have no need to have these martial arts training supplies at home. But as time passes you will notice that between your dojo training and the training that you do at home you have more endurance and skill at your chosen martial arts.



Peter

Marshall Buchholz asked:


Finances? Injuries? Too stressed for time?

Exercise motivation is often lost for a variety of reasons. But while there may be many excuses for giving up a workout program, there is often a greater, underlying reason why a student gives up–especially in Martial Arts practice.

It is simply that motivation got misplaced.

And a good instructor can help a student get beyond the experience of losing exercise motivation. How? I’ve learned over my three decades in the Martial Arts that loss of exercise motivation in training almost always comes down to something I call

“Expectation of Competency Level.”

An odd choice of words, I’ll admit. But if your serious about training in the Martial Arts, read on. I think you’ll be as fascinated by this concept as I was when I discovered it!

Understanding Three Essential Components Of Martial Arts Training

There are three essential components to any kind of Martial Arts Training:

1. The Competency Level Of The Student

2. The Student’s Own Expectations

3. Creative Variation

All Martial Arts students have basically the same goal: To get good at what they are learning, and to be able to use their new skills in either a real self-defense situation or a tournament.

And all good Martial Arts instructors have those same goals for their students. But sometimes the goal of the instructor doesn’t mesh with the expectations of the student. You see, the instructor is particularly concerned with the competency level of the student. That is, teaching the student to perform specific skills at a certain skill level.

Most Martial Arts students enter their training with the expectation that they will learn some sort of techniques and strategies…but…once they have learned those techniques and strategies at the level of Conscious Competence, they want to move on to the next technique.

The expectation of the student is, “If I’ve memorized and learned how to do the technique, I should be able to test and move on to the next belt level.”

Conscious Competence Vs. Unconscious Competence

But students who have achieved Conscious Competence with a technique or skill should never be allowed to advance to the next level. And if they have a good instructor, they won’t. All good, qualified Martial Arts teachers know that skills acquired at the level of Conscious Competence won’t carry over into either real self-defense situations or tournament competition. Those require skills at the level of Unconscious Competence.

Unconscious Competence is a skill level beyond having just learned and memorized a technique. It is experienced when you have achieved a detailed memory and understanding of how to perform the technique such that it becomes a reflex.

The problem is, to get from Conscious Competence to Unconscious Competence requires about twice the amount of training time, and many students simply don’t have the patience to practice a technique for that long beyond the level of Conscious Competence. They’ve learned it; they understand how it works. Now they want to move on and learn something new. If they don’t, the class becomes boring. They slack off, start to lose exercise motivation, attend fewer training sessions, never rising beyond Conscious Competence, and, when the boredom gets to be too much, their motivation is gone. They quit.

For them, Martial Arts was fun for a little while, but, they usually say, “It just wasn’t my thing.”

And the same loss of exercise motivation will happen to you…to me…to any student under the same circumstances, no matter what you’re learning, and no matter who’s teaching you.

Creative Variation: The Key To Staying Motivated

So, what can you do to avoid losing Martial Arts, or for that matter, any type of exercise motivation?

First, acquire an understanding from your teacher of how much time you can expect between belt tests. And second, understand that only the first half of that time will be spent learning a new, fun, and interesting skill. The second half of that time will be spent honing that skill from the level of Conscious Competence to Unconscious Competence.

But that second half of the training does not have to be boring!

A Message For Teachers: You Can Keep Your Students From Losing Motivation. Here’s How…

Teachers, you can easily keep students interested in the classes by laying out the time and competency expectations in advance, and by using the second half of that time to add more variety to the learning.

Adding variety means more than just incorporating games into the training sessions, or tossing in techniques from the latest Martial Arts fads. Rather, it means offering a Creative Variation of the same techniques they are already doing.

For example, at the beginner level of the Wu Ying Tao system, during the first month of training, the student learns a set of nine basic punches, three basic kicks, and blocking defenses for each.

By one month into the training, the student has usually achieved Conscious Competence of the skill involved in standing in a correct fighting stance, stepping into range, and executing the attacks and the defensive moves.

But now, the student is going to have to spend another full month of training in order for these skills to become ingrained. Instead of coming away from each class feeling excited over having learned something new, he might start coming away feeling like Martial Arts training involves a brief introduction to interesting concepts, followed by long series boring repetitions. That is, once the concept is no longer new, it simply becomes a drill to be done over and over, and quite frankly, yes, that does get pretty boring!

Keeping the “eye on the prize” can help, of course, by reminding the student that in only one more month, he or she will have the skill level to take and pass the test.

But there’s another way. A better way.

With Creative Variation, you would, perhaps, change the method of practicing the punches from punching with the rear hand to using the front hand.

Yes, I know, this is a simple variation, but it’s not so simple to a student at the beginner level, either for doing the attacks or the defenses. It opens up a whole new phase of learning what is essentially the same skill, and at the same time, brings variety into the learning process and actually enhances the student’s exercise motivation.

After one month of basic punching, followed by a second month of doing the same thing, but with a Creative Variation, the student’s skills will have arrived at the level of Unconscious Competency.

Students stay motivated. And you enjoy the experience of teaching.

Martial Arts training should always be a fun and interesting experience. While exercise motivation can be a challenge, you can avoid “burn out” by using Creative Variation to work your students’ way from simply being able to perform a skill at Conscious Competence to having the deeper understanding and reflexive proficiency of performing at the level of Unconscious Competence.

All it takes is a little time, a little understanding, and remembering to make your training experience fun!

Here’s another interesting martial arts article: Which martial arts pressure points are the most effective for dominating your opponent?



Diane

Janet Martin asked:


You may think that martial art movements are only about kicking the heart out of your opponents. Well, partly you are right. But behind the fun and excitement of breaking your enemy’s nasal cartilage or poking out his eyes, martial arts training can well be considered as an excellent workout.

This is why there are a lot of people nowadays who go on trying to learn how to kick and punch not because they want to join a brawl in a bar. Rather, many people want to increase their body’s metabolism, improve secretion of certain brain chemicals, or simply enhance their overall well-being.

Martial arts can help you gain skills that are high above any ordinary individual. But few people know the health benefits that come with such deadly exercises. The positive effects of these exercises in one’s health can be best demonstrated by comparing the physical condition of older martial arts practitioners with their non-practicing contemporaries. You will easily find that martial artists look years, if not decades, younger than other members of their age bracket who believe in sedentary lifestyle.

Truly, undergoing martial arts training allows you to enjoy a unique program that combines exhilarating adrenaline rush with a no nonsense workout. Here are a few advantages that martial arts can bring to your overall health.

Weight Loss

Any martial art training, in essence, is an aerobic exercise. When you do this kind of training, you are able to move most, if not all of your muscles. As an important part of your fitness program, martial arts can burn considerable amounts of calories and help you lose unwanted weight.

Many practitioners have been observed to burn up to 5,000 calories daily, if they practice regularly. Some even claim that all the kicking and screaming during sessions can decrease one’s appetite. No wonder it is hard to find traditional and sports martial artists who weigh a ton, unless you talk about sumo wrestling – but that’s another story.

Enhanced Liver Functions

Everyone knows the important role that the liver plays in one’s life. Without it, one can not live. Liver is an important component in metabolism, especially in regulating carbohydrates in the bloodstream. You see, substances like fats, carbohydrates and proteins from the food you ate are brought to the liver.

These nutrients are eventually turned into simple sugars and are either released into the bloodstream or stored as glycogen by the liver. Uncontrolled amounts of glycogen in your blood may not be good for your health. But for most practitioners of martial arts, the liver tends to have increased capacity to store glycogen; thus, preventing more sugar to circulate in the blood.

Enhanced Physiological Activity

Sign up for at least three weeks of serious martial arts training in your nearby Karate or Taekwondo school and you will see remarkable changes in your overall bodily functions. Masters say that you will definitely attain healthier blood sugar and blood pressure levels within a very short time if you practice martial arts.

Other benefits include improved brain chemistry and blood supply to your cells and tissues. All these changes can positively improve the functioning of your brain and body. And with that, you have a better chance of preventing diabetes, heart ailments and certain cancers from happening to you.

These are but a few of the health benefits that you can gain from doing martial arts exercises. Needless to say, any martial art program requires that you have well-functioning muscles and joints. Over time, part of the health benefits of martial arts can help you deal with most pains and aches.

But for now, you will not be able to perform at your peak if you can not move your joints due to arthritis or other joint problems. To prevent stiffness in the joints from ruining your martial art workout, you need products that improve and lubricate your joints, just like Flexcerin. For more information, visit http://www.flexcerin.com/.



Shannon