2009 June | Martial Arts Heaven

Parents are always asking “When is the best time to start their kids in a Martial Art”… the answer is always as soon as possible. Obviously most instructors don’t want to be teaching lessons to 2 year olds so the youngest age of most schools to start teaching kids martial arts is around 5yo.

Although most Martial Art Instructors don’t want to teach one, two or three year olds, they generally start their own children as soon as they can stand on their own two feet.Just take a look on youtube and you can watch proud parents showing their own kids picking up training gloves and having a go or trying to get their Mum or Dad in an armbar.Kids born into a family of Martial Artists will always have an advantage.Physical Exercise is just seen as a part of everyday living.

I remember once being at my instructors house and we were sparring hard, groin shots, takedowns, chokes were all happening and then we see his 3yo daughter walk casually past us while we’re rolling on the ground, she climbs up onto the swing, gets it going and yells out “look at me Daddy, look at me”

Seeing her Dad knocking around with friends was just a typical weekend. Most “normal” kids would be worried about their dad turning purple from a rear naked chock but not this girl… she is now a brown belt and even though she is one of the smaller kids she always hits the target (normally a groin shot) and hits it harder than the average student, then she walks away giggling to herself.

The intro of this article has taken a small detour but my point is the younger kids start learning the better they will be when they are older. I’m not just talking about teaching kids martial arts, but also Flexibility, Focus, Strength and Conditioning.

I’m sure I’ll upset a bunch of people by saying that fat lazy kids really annoy me, but that’s how I am. I don’t blame the kids because it’s generally the parents fault for not showing them a better lifestyle.Kids look for a leader and follow the examples they see.You are not expected to take on the responsibility of teaching kids how to be fit and healthy but if they are already coming to you, why not do it as a bonus.Consider it your reward to be able to point them in the right direction.What you teach them will benefit everyone.

So what do I mean by Exploding/Explosive kids?

Kids excel at things they enjoy so it’s important to show them ways to build their Strength, their Fitness and their Flexibility safely and in a variety of fun ways.

When it comes to Strength you have to be careful.I don’t recommend using heavy weights because if the kids are not properly supervised at all time they can use bad form while lifting and cause damage to developing bones, tendons and joints…. BUT with only using their own bodyweight there are plaenty of simple exercises to do.

There are three great advantages to body weight exercises:

1. No-one has to pay for any equipment

2. The Kids bodyweight is the perfect weight for them to train with

3. Most exercises can be done anywhere at any time

Body weight exercises also use a lot of core muscles and compound muscle groups.You can create great cardio endurance and explosive speed and power by training with higher reps and the explosive nature of these exercises.These are all core elements of a great fighter.

So “When is the best time to start teaching kids Strength, Conditioning and Flexibility”… NOW!!!

The basic exercises for core strength are push-ups, squats, dips, chin-ups and then add bridging which will strengthen the neck and back. Don’t just do the standards of all these exercises, mix them up and teach the kids new ways to do them, for example in the push-up category you have: standard, wide, narrow, diamonds, wide-narrow, armpit push-ups, robots, clappers, high-lows, hovers… Show them some variety and make a game/challenge out of it.

It’s a little scary to think how strong some of the young students will be as teenagers.Imagine fighting with an 18yo that’s been doing 100-200 push-ups, sit-ups and squats everyday since they started training at the age of 5.

My final words of advice, Make sure you also do these exercises or one day they will be bigger and stronger than you… hold on to that advantage as long as you can.

I wish you all the best with your teaching and training

Regards

A.J.Perry - Author of “Martial Games for Kids“

These are my thoughts on dishing out punishment in the dojo and in life…

I see a lot of Martial Art Instructors using Push Ups as a form of punishment and it drives me crazy. How can making someone do something beneficial be a punishment? If your kids misbehave do you tell them to eat a healthy meal and get a good nights sleep. If they are well behaved do you pump them full of junk food and sugar and make them play video games till the sun comes up?… Maybe you do but I hope not.

Push-Ups are a great exercise and it makes me furious to see people threatening to use them as a form of punishment. I wonder if this comes from old army and football training routines. If the guys do something wrong the Sergeant/Coach makes them “drop and give me twenty!”.

I want to share a story with you about my time at school (way back then) when teachers could actually tell students what to do and kids had to do it…

When I was 15 years old I had a mathematics teacher who was brilliantly smart and he was also a solid 240lbs (115kgs) of muscle. He competed at the Commonwealth Games in Power Lifting. After the normal School day he ran the weightlifting club which was always open to anyone daring enough to have a go. He was a great guy and taught me a lot about how to lift weights properly.

In his class we quickly realised that any misbehaviour such as talking in class, not doing your home work, getting a C or lower in any test, etc was dealt with by issuing a certain number of push ups to be done on the spot. I wasn’t a genius but I managed to get through the weeks without hitting the floor to do 20 or more push ups for one reason or another.

As the school year progressed the same guys kept doing the same stupid things and kept getting punished the same way. The only difference was that they got stronger and fitter. The maths teacher being a smart man realised that it was becoming too easy so he simply raised the number of push ups required. Some of the guys would have to do 50, 80 or 100 push ups every time, and sometimes that was 2 or 3 times in a single lesson.

I realised a couple of things in that year:

1. The guys that were the worst behaved were generally the bullies of the school.

2.The more they monkeyed around the more push ups they had to do.

3. The more push ups they did, the stronger they got.

4. Push Ups were not considered a punishment, they did them proudly.

During that year the smart well behaved kids learnt maths and the trouble makers stayed dumb but got a lot stronger physically. Looking back now I can see that he would have been better off threatening them with extra home work which they would have hated and rewarded the smart kids with push ups so they wouldn’t get bullied so easily.

My main point in this article is that I want Instructors to stop using push ups as a punishment and start using it as a reward. There are an infinite number of push up variations for you to teach your students. Show them some new ones and get them to make up some of their own. Have a push up contest to see who can do the most of the different types. Make push ups fun and challenging.

Recently I have been experimenting with a variety of explosive push ups that have greatly improved my ability to spring back to me feet after sprawling. In the modern world of MMA fighting this is a great skill to improve.

So please, help me out and find some other way to punish bad behaviour. Make the Push Up a friend, not an enemy.

I wish you all the best with your teaching and training

Regards

Aaron Perry

For many people, there is the assumption that boxing classes is all sparring or, worse, street fight. This is really not an accurate assessment of boxing. But, it is understandable that many parents would worry about their sons and daughters being hurt in such a class. Sparring does come with minor (And we do mean the risks are minor and minimal) risks, not all boxing training involves sparring at all. In fact, there are multitudes of boxing training that can help develop solid techniques in pugilism that do not come with significant contact.

For example, the basic process taught in a shadow boxing classes can do a lot to develop skill and it comes with no risk of injury since there is no contact involved. With shadow boxing, the participant will practice stance, co-ordination, and movement. Often, it is techniques and discipline that increase a participant’s ability. Yes, ring work is important but since the ‘boxer’ is a young child there can be plenty of time for that when the person gets older. At the beginning, form, technique, and stamina can play the main role in the training.

One way this can be achieved is through a boxing course that offers a structure to help a participant slowly increase his skills. This process allows a ‘boxer’ to understand the important parts of boxing without having to deal with semi-or full contact. The benefits of this approach is evident. Initially, it develops the skills needed to engage in semi-contact training if required and desired. In addition to this, it improves the core strength and cardio vascular condition that significantly increases health and wellbeing. Increased levels of fitness reduce the main two health conditions in the world today: heart disease and strokes. Getting a boxer to pursue a healthy lifestyle at a young age increases their quality of life exponentially. Final, this training provides the much needed focus that helps the youngster see the steps required for skill development.

This is achieved by presenting progressive training programs as the boxer’s skill increases. Classes are not “pass/fail” as this would remove the pleasure from the training programs. This testing approach is self-defeating. Training programs instead, simply on highlighting skill development and achievement. They also highlight a progression for the student to follow which allows them to set goals for their achievement. When a participant has a goal to focus on, they can chart progress and focus on areas of improvement. Application of this is possible training.

So, there is no need for people to worry about the safety of the students when it comes to non-contact boxing classes. These boxing fitness programs have been expertly designed to provide a great foundation for a lifetime progression in the art and science of boxing and health and fitness. Participant can have a great time, get in shape, and develop strong discipline.

Do you like martial arts? If so, the Baltimore Martial Arts Academy Judo & Mixed Martial Arts Center could be the place for you. Since 1994, Baltimore MMA Academy has been training students to complete perfection in the field of martial arts. With an array of talented, experienced instructors this is the perfect place for both adults and children to learn the wonderful skills of martial arts. Many people consider martial arts as just a way to defend yourself. That is not the case at all. Not only do you learn self defense in martial arts, but it is also a very enjoyable sport and a wonderful form of exercise.

Baltimore Mixed Martial Arts has a variety of programs available. They are all a great way to increase your fitness level while learning fun and creative moves. Baltimore Mixed Martial Arts offers many different styles of martial arts to be learned by students. These include Aikido, Arnis, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Kickboxing Aerobics, Kung Fu, as well as other mixed martial arts programs. They also have a program that is especially designed for personal growth and strength known as Pencak Silat Mande Muda.

While many martial arts classes can be very harsh and stressful that is not how things are done at Baltimore Mixed Martial Arts. Students and instructors are respected equally. The belief that learning is best achieved while also being enjoyed is followed here. No student will ever be downgraded or criticized at Baltimore Martial Arts Academy Judo & Mixed Martial Arts Center. These programs are great for young children just starting out in learning martial arts or professionals looking to brush up on their skills. The instructors have many years of experience and want to make every martial art session unique for each and every student. The classes are a relaxed setting where learning can be enjoyed. They are available for both day and evening sessions and even accept walk ins.

If you are looking for genuine mixed martial arts instruction in the Baltimore area you just might be interested in the programs offered at the Baltimore Martial Arts Academy Judo & Mixed Martial Arts Center.

Adam Delbrugge

Columbia MD Martial Arts

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is fast becoming the most popular martial arts discipline the world. Training at sites such as the Baltimore MMA Academy, fighters practice a combination of traditional personal combat styles. As the sport has evolved, MMA adapted these traditional styles to give MMA the look of a sophisticated discipline in its own right. Promotions such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) have seen MMA become a mainstream sport that fits neatly into the sports regulatory regimes of countries worldwide.

Baltimore MMA Academy incorporates all personal combat styles into training regimes that focus on traditional disciplines, such as Aikido, Brazilian Jiu Jiitsu, and Karate. A major program at the academy brings them together in a mixed martial arts regime. MMA is a full contact sport that requires strength, flexibility, speed, reflex, and intelligence. Fighting includes kicking, striking, and grappling employed in a variety of strategies that emphasize differing tactics to gain the upper hand. Intense competition has caused fighters to evolve continuously more sophisticated styles. Rule changes and the nature of MMA combat have kept bouts competitive and interesting. Knockouts are less common than in boxing though several MMA styles have knockout as their aim. Submission is more common with those whose strategies emphasize grappling and ground fighting, but either outcome will produce victory under MMA rules.

Victory can also come if a fight is halted as a result in injury that can halt a fight cause if there is serious impairment. Safety improvements, such as rules for disqualification and the use of gloves, have helped mainstream this violent sport. A referee can call a fight if a fighter appears to be seriously injured or impaired and rules limit the use of more dangerous techniques, emphasizing skill over brute force and violence. Disqualifications which give victory to an opponent have encouraged fighters to fight aggressively, but play by the rules. These rules have prevented all but one death or serious injury in a sanctioned fight in the modern history of MMA.

Serious injury in the early no holds barred era of MMA made the sport a brutal, bloody spectacle. Rules and safety regulations surrounding fierce but keen competition have moderated the violence and propelled the sport into the mainstream. Mixed martial arts now competes as one of the most highly viewed pay per view television broadcasts worldwide.

Adam Delbrugge

Columbia MD Martial Arts