Teaching 6 - 9 year olds - Question

James Green Dragon

James Green Dragon

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Oct 24, 2004
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Mods, I figured this was the appropriate section for this...?

I am filling in for the owner of the Dojang (Korean Martial Arts school) where I teach Hapkido to adults. I am covering 2 classes for him, both are childrens classes & one of which is made up of 6 - 9 year olds. The other are older and more advanced kids & so far that class is far easier for me...

I am told I am 'good with children' but I don't have any kids and have little experience dealing with children in this age group. So far so good though (!). A couple of Moms & Dads stay to watch class and the children are quite well mannered for their age.

Thus far I have started class with a short bow in, followed by some stretching. After that I was trying to teach them to do a 'simple' front roll, however, it seems like that may be too much for them coordination-wise. A couple of them have what I would consider to be above average hand-eye coordination but not a single one of them was really able to get the front roll.

Question: does something like tumbling / rolling require too much coordination for me to be trying to teach 6 - 9 year olds?

I'm thinking of leaving that out tonight...

I have shown them a couple "break aways" from a wrist grab and they all did just fine on that. They even know how to do a front kick (well, a couple of them do & the rest are eager to try...). So I was kind of suprised about the tumbling. Maybe I ought to try it one more time before I give up on it for the wee-ones?

Anyway, I'd appreciate any advise - especially from those of you with Kids and or experience teaching them anything from football to gymnastics etc...

Thanks :)
 
James Green Dragon said:
Question: does something like tumbling / rolling require too much coordination for me to be trying to teach 6 - 9 year olds?
I'm thinking of leaving that out tonight...
Click to expand...
My grandson is 2 1/2 and not particularly coordinated but somehow he taught himself to do a front roll so I find it difficult to believe that a 6 year old can't learn it. Keep trying and good luck.

((fixed the quote tab closure -- EB))
 
Thanks for the reply dude. I kept them at it Wednesday night - they will need alot of practice to get the roll down but hey, what can you do.
 
Keeping them at it is a good idea. Challenges are ultimately better for them.

I'm also surprised they didn't do rolls without thinking. I wonder if it's because their parents are watching, maybe overprotectively. When we came home dinged up, cuts & bruises, my mother didn't even say anything, just washed it off or got us stitches, no biggie.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
When we came home dinged up, cuts & bruises, my mother didn't even say anything, just washed it off or got us stitches, no biggie.
Click to expand...


Exactly, what I find weird is the number of kids these days without scraped knees, elbows and bruises all over their shins from climbing things.
 
Keep them at the rolls ...they should be able to handle that. Particularly as important as that is to their 'training'.

I've got to mention that I was given similar training as a kid some 35 or so years ago ...and of all things I was taught back then by someone such as yourself, the proper method of rolling (front and back) is what has stuck with me over the years...and what, I might add, has been to my 'benefit' in a few sticky situations.

By the way, since I can't thank the individual who took their time to teach me that stuff way back when, I'll thank you instead ...Thank you. :)
 
As far as the rolls go, I'd believe it's definitely within the skill level at that age they just need to get past the intimidation of the newness.

My son was executing pretty darn good Judo rolls the first year he enrolled, which was at five years of age. By six he had it down very well, able to actually use them well in real life ie; playground mishaps and such.

I'm a bit short on time here, but my biggest suggestion is to keep it fun, and don't forget to prioritize the primary essentials before the details.

Good luck!
 
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