Instructors , do you have any games that you play in class for younger students to make learning fun ?

Question

For example , we play one called "Ninja Turtles".

Each student has a piece of belt folded over their own belt , and their "opponent" tries to get it from them.

This game is fun , and it teaches footowork for self defence and sparring.

Simple morons , this is a Martial arts question aimed at martial arts instructors.

Answer 1

There are three that I use in my Aikido classes. We only play games every three months (class before a promotion), but I still like games that are relevant.

Turnball - Using a large ball. The kids form a circle, a couple inside the circle. The circle tries to roll the ball at the kids in the center. The kids in the center have to use a step-turn or tenkan to move out of the way of the ball. No jumping, no dodging. The ball stays on the ground; no throwing or bouncing.

Frogs and alligators - Frogs jump only one direction. Alligators can use a "pencil" roll or "shrimp" movement in any direction. If an alligator catches a frog, the frog becomes an alligator. The frogs, of course are trying to get to the other side of the mat without getting caught. I think, actually, that the alligators get the most out of this game.

Drop the sock - Divide the mat into two haves. Distribute socks (or I use Koosh balls) on two sides. Divide the kids into two teams. The kids throw the socks at each other like dodgeball, but instead of being out when the get hit, the change teams. The catch is that in order to pick up a sock they must do a roll to reach it, even if they are standing right next to it.

And another "game" I use is to chase the kids with a foam sword. The idea is that if they run away, I nail them. If they dodge, I nail them. If they turn in to me where they could execute a throw, I let them go. For some reason, this is a particular favorite with the kids, even the ones who consistently get nailed.

Answer 2

Vincent,

A game I play with kids and adults, usually in the last 5 minutes of class, is called "Pay Attention"

Take a Nerf-like ball, a small football is best and place people in a rough circle. You now toss the ball to a person with the following restrictions:

- Cannot be too fast/hard
- Cannot be too high/low
- Cannot be to the person next to you unless there are less than 8
- Cannot hold the ball for more than 2 seconds

If the person catches the ball, they throw it, if they do not catch the ball, they do push ups.

I usually set the timer for 2 minutes so we get two games. Folks are encouraged to throw it oddly, to look at one person while throwing to another, to generally do everything they can to make their target person not catch the ball within the restrictions listed above.

Another game I play with just the kids is a relay type race.

I break the kids into equal teams, 2-3 teams depending on class size and have them run sprints to a certain area. sometimes they will be required to do push ups on one leg, sometimes a technique, sometimes a short form. I time them and then have them run it again after I reduce their time by 10% or so. If they beat their time, I do push ups, if they do not beat the new time, they do push ups.

Yet another game is martial arts baseball. We use a Nerf-like ball again and break into teams, set out bases, etc. We normally go for just 2-3 innings and you are allowed only kicks when you are "at bat." That's normally one I save for just before a holiday closing.

Good luck.

Answer 3

I am an instructor and teaching beginners is my FAVORITE! I love to incorporate challenges into the lessons as it keeps everyone from getting bored and kids especially love the change from the rail :) 1. I will have students practice their figure 8's. I set up cones in a figure 8 pattern (2 circles with cones at 12,3,6 & 9, like a clock) and teach them to count strides between cones to perfect their circles. 2. Set up cones in a straight line and have students practice weaving their horses through (at a walk) using only their legs and seat (kids really have a blast with this one. I just make sure to laugh and encourage rather than always correcting on this one) 3. Set up a simple obstacle course (riding around a barrel, walking the horse in a straight line (cavalettis set up parallel to each other and walk horse in between), taking a flag from a cone and placing in another cone (or bucket to make it easier), etc. 4. Have the kids do a pattern (age appropriate). I and my students show Arab circuit so I try to pick from patterns they will be doing. 5. If there is a day that we're not riding I get the quietest horse I have and we paint the bones on the horse. Or I do 1/2 the lesson riding and 1/2 the lesson doing this. ALWAYS a favorite! The kids don't even realize that they're learning. For the little ones, I keep it really simple! I guess the best piece of advice I can pass on (and I've been giving lessons for over 20 years) is to have fun! Keep a smile on your face and really encourage the kids, show them that they're doing a great job, and keep them engaged in the lesson. There are great books by the way. Themed Lesson Plans for Riding Instructors by Melissa Troup Teaching Children to Ride by Jane Wallace (this book has great ideas for kids) Games on Horseback (can't remember who this is by) Have fun :)

Answer 4

Get 2 tennis balls give them to a student, the other student stands 15' away. student # 1 through 1 ball under hand when its caught he through the other. The # 2 student through the first ball back. So you should have one ball in the air at all times.Do this as long as possible without dropping a ball.Start slow then go faster and faster.

Answer 5

Ok i guess these other guys didn't realize this was in the Martial arts section before they answered. Anyways We play a game simmilar to yours. well actually just like yours to develop footwork, speed and stances. Actually we are going to incorporate it into a future tournament event for the younger guys

Answer 6

I've seen the ones where you practice striking balloons, hitting them with fake swords, using the form swords to do a tag like game, doing a crab walk and trying to trip the other up, etc.
Edit: I totally forgot about marker fights (with helmets).

Answer 7

My son is in the leadership program and has the students play a game similar to yours. They call it the chicken fight---they turn their belts around and their opponent tries to grab the front of their belts. It really helps them with their blocking skills.

Answer 8

We had a game like your 'Ninja Turtles'. It's similar to flag football.

We also played 'Marco Polo'. One student is blindfolded and the object is for him/her to tag one of the other students. He finds them by yelling 'Marco!' and the other students must respond with 'Polo!'

Answer 9

I sometimes play "Sa Bu Nim says". It's Simon says only with MA movements.

Answer 10

We do not play games with our youth. We keep the training deadly serious. We do not want the children to think of martial arts as a game or "fun time". It is a time of serious training.
We also do not seperate our youth, our classess have all rank and ages in them at once.
No dispespect but are you really doing this kids a favor by making the training into a game? This method of teaching does not align with our philosophy of training.