What are some good (legal) punishments for disrespectful kids?

Question

The background is, we have some students in our karate class that are just awful. They are disrespectful- they talk out of turn, talk back, and talk over teachers, whine when they don't get to have a drink after 10 minutes of class, or when they don't do something "fun". You would think by my description that the problem is with little 8 year old white belts. They aren't the problem- it's the 11-13 year old middle ranks that can't behave.

Naturally, we do not want them to pass this behavior onto the younger kids. For the longest time, we gave them pushups. Now, they don't care, and don't do them correctly anyway (they cheat). If you stand over them and make sure they do them, they will boo hoo and bellyache for half a class while the good kids (not to mention us teachers) lose valuable time.

So what are your suggestions for punishments they won't enjoy, and you won't get an earful from their parents?

We have a very small dojo (otherwise running would be perfect). Probably another reason kids are acting out is because it's getting ridiculously crowded and it's hard to watch them. We will eventually break up the classes into two sections.

Answer 1

I would recommend:

*Jumping kickouts (on the knuckles)

**Excellent conditioning option

**Beats running, anytime.

*Squats

**Hands behind the back (parade rest position).

**Builds the strength and endurance necessary for many kumite techniques (hurts like "all get-out" the next day, too).

*Squatting against the wall

**Hands out in front, elbows up, the "OSS!" position.

Counsel the kids while this is going on and inform them that they are becoming role models, and that role models uphold your Art's traditions.

*Offer them the option of quitting if they don't feel that they can handle the responsibility of being martial arts role models to the younger kids.

If this doesn't work within a week, talk to mommy and daddy, and tell them the same thing (the exercises are optional ...)

Good luck, I hope this helps.

(;=]

Answer 2

Well with kids you have to understand that they will always misbehave, disiplaine is the reason why kids are sent to karate in the first place, my shihan never gets angry at the kids and gives them a little slack but when he catches someone talking or misbehaving he just tells them in a strong voice something along the lines of "if you want to chat dont come to karate, you are here to train, if you want to talk, talk after class, and if you keep talking im going to call your mother to come get you and then you can come back here when you want to train"

it works alot of the time, there are kids who just wont listen but he says you just have to be patient with them and do your best and most of them will learn eventually, the main thing is that they enjoy karate and that they want to do it, its impossible to make a kid do what they dont want to do so you have to make them want to do that

He has a few kids of his own and he has taken some cources on how to deal with kids so that has helped him, i think if you are teaching kids its iportant to study how to teach them the right way, but i know that there are some kids that he had to kick out of the dojo because they just didnt want to do karate and were disterbing the rest of the class, it wasnt an easy thing to do but he had to do it for the sake of the rest of the class

Answer 3

Public embarassment. Point out when the kids are acting a fool and make sure that the whole class sees how "Disrespectful to the dojo" these kids are being.
Ive always been a fan of the Look of dissapointment followed by shaking your head. As well as saying "Not Cool".

Youve got to get into their minds. If all else faIls, i would kick them out or talk to their parents. You are a teacher, not a babysitter.

Answer 4

Kick them out of class. They are not good for the martial arts community. They're dangerous if you give them martial training.... If they grow up and use their martial knowledge to hurt someone, that damage will be your fault.
Tell them they're what they are, which is lost causes. So many parents suck at parenting now days, they expect teachers (sensei) to raise their kids. Well, it's not our job. And we don't have the time for it in our 1,2 or 3 days a week classes...
Therefore, kids raised like this are waiste of breath, and eventually of welfare money coming out of my pocket. Kicking them out will be the most delicate and kind thing you can do for them and for our country. To leave them in is to promote their behavior as correct.
Whether you want to be a McDojo or not, teaching them a martial art is 100% unacceptable. Have some standards.

Answer 5

what i have seen an instructor is have a punch pad in his hand. its like a table tennis bat but padded on both sides and when kids talk when he wants them to be quiet hehits them with it. now hitting them sounds bad but when u think how padded it is it wont injure them but it makes a loud bang which will scare the others in to line. he also uses a shinai (singapore cane, kendo stick) and gently hits them on the side of the leg and bum again sounds worse than it is.
plus if they have really angered him he shouts at them.
what my bro does (canoe instructor) if kids mess about he just tells them to go and stand at the side
so if they mess about tell them if they do it again ur going to stand somewere untill they can behave if they do it again follow throught with the punishment and if it happens again punish them for longer. dont be afraid to do it infront of their parents if their parents say anything about it just say they were messing about when i was trying to explain thing about safety and if they mess about it jepodises other childrens safety and u are not prepaired to do that they will except it or they might take the kid out of the class if they accept it fine happens next lesson do same again, if they take the kid out of the class u loose a little bit of money with the child not being there but a hugee pain in the a rse has gone.

Answer 6

Make them wear a mouth piece and work them harder. It is very hard to speak when breathing hard while a mouth piece is in.

When they are a problem, hold studio wide sparring sessions. Ultimately class is for the students and if a few goofballs are taking away from the serious many, things will fix themselves when they all fight.
-rj

Answer 7

Ah yes, clout them over the heads a few times... Or expel them from a few classes...

Some of us, in my own class, complain as well, and we're teenagers. And though most of it is just humor, we can still get punished for it...

Answer 8

sit-ups and press-ups and plenty of them!!-you can do this without incurring the wrath of the do-gooders and the bleeding heart brigade-its all training after all. if you get a particularly disruptive child put him/her in the lowest point in the press-up position (palms of hands toes and nose touching the floor only) and ask them this question " you are not going to mess about in my class again are you"???-and keep him there until he says "no sir". once this is done tell him if he steps out of line again the whole class will be made to do it. hard i know but in my club i only have to look at the kids in a certain way and i get instant respect -they know the price of crossing sabomnim curtis!!. i even get parents asking me what my secret is because they cannot control them at home. and that secret is that you have to be hard sometimes. if the worst comes to the worst get the most disruptive one in front of the entire school-tell them they are a failure get out of your school and never come back-then look at the rest (of the troublemakers) and say "would you like to join him"??-there won't be many takers i promise you.

Answer 9

Make them wear pink belts until they earn back the right to wear the belt of their rank.

Hang the belts on the wall where they can be seen by everyone and let it be known that anyone who shows disrespect within the walls of the school will be required to wear one. Then the most important part: Follow through on the threat. If they refuse to wear the pink belt call their parents and send them home. If they repeat the behavior dismiss them permanently.

Obviously, they think you are weak and cannot make them comply. The challenge has been issued. Who is going to win? Others are watching and waiting to see how you are going to respond.

Answer 10

Don't let them participate. They are ruining it for those who are serious about training. Should be a standard for all dojos. When they can behave, they can resume training. Same with my kids. They don't get to do or have what they love if they can't behave. If they whine or cry, we ignore it. We never hit them.