A parent came in last week looking for martial arts classes for her 9 year old son.
He’d tried many traditional martial arts in the past — mainly Karate — and was looking for something a little more hands on. I wasn’t quite sure what she meant by hands on.
Did she mean something a little more physical and practical or did she mean a class where the kids sparred against each other?
Just to be sure, I asked her.
With more traditional styles of martial arts kids learn a lot of techniques by rote. They copy, they repeat. They work in traditional lines (we do too) and spend a lot of time learning set patterns called Kata in Karate, Forms in Kung Fu and Patterns in Tae Kwon Do.
Her son wanted something more hands on in the practical sense.
He wanted something more physical where he wasn’t just learning martial art techniques, he was using them. He wanted to punch the pads and kick the pads (not just the air).
Of course I’m biased, but our classes are perfect.
The kids learn the exact same techniques the adults do and they train the same too. In the same way that kids learn the same gymnastic movements that adults do, in the same way that kids learning tennis learn the same techniques that the professionals do and in the same way that kids learn to play the same game of football that adults do…
We teach kids the same martial art we teach to our adults.
But like gymnastics, tennis and football we focus on teaching them the basics and fundamentals first.
That includes sparring! Gasp! Yes, sparring.
Although our kids Muay Thai classes a) are always supervised b) it’s only for kids with basics and c) they were full protective equipment and d) the most important bit – there is no head contact.
And they have a blast sparring. Putting their techniques into practice under the watchful eye of our team of instructors.
As you can see from the picture above – we’ve a great bunch of kids, boys and girls of all ages.
From age 4 through to 7, then 8 through to 12 and a teens only class.
It means our classes are always age appropriate, the little kids class is more relax while we can push the teens to work up a serious sweat and get seriously fit too.
If you’d like to find out more about our kids martial arts classes and Kids Muay Thai Classes then simply call us on 01293 552 551 or enter you name and telephone number in the enquiry for on this page.
We’ll give you a call back and arrange your child’s first lesson.
See you in they gym!