Teaching Martial Arts to Adults and Children Together

Anyone who asks me about martial arts classes for children, I will tell them that if the child is willing and the parent can find a good instructor, they will never regret it. Training in a real dojo with a qualified instructor is an experience that challenges a child, broadens his horizons, and helps him to learn just how capable he is. I have even known of disabled children who, through a program of martial arts, were able to improve in many other areas of their lives. Good martial arts training is a positive, no question about it.

But what would you say to a mixed age and skill level class that included both adults and children together?

My answer is unreservedly yes! Here's why:

1. Mixed martial arts classes are more convenient for families

One of the biggest worries we have for our kids today is over-scheduling. Between school and homework, extra-curricular activities, religious and family activities, and community service, kids today have little time left over for unstructured play. That may not seem very important, but play is essential for a child's development. When several members of the family want to attend martial arts classes in the same dojo it is all too easy to get caught up going back and forth several times a week at different times, just to be sure everybody gets in their class time.

Add in the dance classes, the after school book club, the 4H or Scouts meetings, and so on. This is what we call an over-scheduled child - not to mention the parent who is running the child to and fro for activities! And unfortunately this over-scheduling begins to affect children before they are even old enough to attend the activities themselves, as younger siblings are constantly toted back and forth in the stroller or car seat when parents are rushing about to collect their older siblings.

A mixed class allows for all the members of the family to go to one session together, and cuts out a good deal of the running around. In my experience it has also meant that the classes are longer, and participants get more individual attention from instructors. Because there is only one group to supervise, the instructors are also eliminating a good deal of over-scheduling for themselves, and they are more likely to be enthusiastic and well rested when they come to teach a class. Teaching duties may still be divided up between the black belts and the more senior students, but this is not a matter of having less qualified people trying to run classes alone. Instead the most experienced instructors have the opportunity to more closely supervise their newer instructors and teachers to be.

In our dojo, the mixed class results in a total of five hours' instruction each week for everybody. It also means direct instruction from a 5th Dan black belt each class, in addition to opportunities for some of the more advanced students to start leading activities and taking on responsibilities a little at a time. This provides both safety for all concerned, and motivation for the advanced students to show they are ready to take on the increased responsibilities.

2. Mixed martial arts classes allow children to gain confidence through practising with people of all sizes and skill levels

My youngest is only five years old and has just begun to attend JuJutsu with her father and older sisters. On the very first night, this little slip of a thing was taught to trip her big sisters and her father, and then her Shihan. This kind of practice helps her realize that the techniques she is learning have little to do with size or strength, and much more to do with physics and competence.

A child limited to a class with same size peers never gets the chance to test herself against a much bigger child or an adult - at least not in the safety of the dojo. The child who is confident facing off against anyone, regardless of size, age or belt colour, is the child who will not freeze up if a bigger child tries to bully her or if an adult tries to harm her or take her away from her family. The one who learned only with others of her age and skill level will be much easier to intimidate.

Furthermore, older and more advanced students model for the younger child appropriate attitude towards accepting a challenge - physical or otherwise. They may struggle to learn or perfect a new technique, but they don't give up. They may fall down or hurt themselves, but they get up and dust themselves off, and they go right back to work again. This is an important lesson for many of us, today. If taught to our youngest children, it can be carried over into all areas of life, including academics. Mixed age groups offer this valuable lesson in a way that homogenous grouping cannot. The next time you are at a preschool or early primary aged event, pay attention to how much time is given over to managing behaviour and how often the instructor or leader has to repeat the same lessons before children begin to improve their ability to cope with adversity and disappointment.

I'm not saying this need is completely eliminated in a mixed age martial arts class, but with more variety of age and rank in the class, there are many more role models for each child to follow, and the child soon learns that he too, will one day become a role model for someone new. My eight year old, who has been practising JuJutsu for two years, has become somewhat of a mentor now to her baby sister. She couldn't be more pleased at being able to take on this new role, and the improvement in her own performance even when her sister is not present, is obvious after only a few classes.

3. Mixed martial arts classes promote a long term commitment to physical fitness

We know today that kids who see their parents being active and pursuing a healthy lifestyle will be more likely to pursue that lifestyle themselves. Taking a martial arts class with your children is a great way to model an active lifestyle and encourage your kids to remain active as they transition into their adolescent or adult years.

We also know that, while many parents encourage kids to be active through team sports, participation in these types of activities declines as kids get older. Martial arts offers a certain degree of competition, especially if students choose to take part in tournaments. But the ongoing focus is self-improvement, rather than direct competition with any other person or group, and development of a certain skill set that also includes many non-physical things such as increasing focus, appreciation for another culture, and understanding the dynamics of interpersonal relationships. This may be more relevant to older children and youth than team sport.

Rising up in the ranks (earning new belts) gives the student something to strive for over a number of years. Watching the higher ranking students work hard to earn their honours, and seeing that they begin to be trusted with certain responsibilities, demonstrates to younger and less experienced students that martial arts is an ongoing process in which there is always room for new growth. When students are divided by age and rank, this lesson may take much longer to sink in.

I was just talking to a young man last evening who has been studying in our dojo for about four years, and has attained the rank of a brown belt. He was discussing not only the reward he gets from improving his techniques and knowing he could defend himself should the need arise, but the fact that he has now gained enough experience to see someone else perform a technique and be able to dissect it in his mind so he can analyze it. He sees the roots of a technique in tradition and in the cross-over from one tradition or school to the other, and he sees how the technique applies the laws of physics to achieve a desired outcome. He has also arrived at a point where he can see that individual practitioners may need to adapt some techniques because of varying abilities, body types and so on. Finally, as a senior student, he has begun to take an interest in mentoring the less advanced students who attend classes with him. As a parent, this is all I could ever wish for my children in a sport.

My husband attending classes with the girls, and our personal involvement with both the younger and older members of the dojo, allows us to better monitor what is going on with our children's learning of the art. The family atmosphere of this mixed age dojo promotes cooperation between students of varying levels, and involves parents more directly in the classes whether they choose to participate as students themselves, or not. There is a closeness, a sense of intimacy that may be lacking in a larger dojo where students are divided into several different groups.

While most martial arts schools are organized into classes according to age level or ability, a mixed age class has its benefits too. If convenient scheduling is not a factor for your family, you may still want to consider a mixed age and rank class because of the other long term benefits it will have on your child. If you are interested in martial arts yourself, join the class! Getting out there on the mat is a great way to encourage your children to stay physically active as they get older.

Sources:

"The Importance of Play in Learning" Jamie on March (Self-Made Scholar)

"New AAP report stresses play for healthy development" AAP News Room

"Quick Poll Results" Active Healthy Kids Canada (General Mills)