Becoming a Kung Fu Kid
First months of your kid's training. 
What to expect?

Typical Outcomes

What are some of the areas in which you will see improvement of your child in the first months of training?

• Coordination

Children classes are focused much more on general physical development than becoming a kung fu athlete. Coordination that can be transfered to any other sport that your child might pick up later, is one of the highest goals. 

• Strength

Kung fu requires lot of strength in the legs (because of the stances); furthermore strength is one of the developemental aspects I focus on at the age of 7-10 years old. 

• Technique

In the first months, you child will learn some kicking techniques (front kick, low kick, knee), hand techniques (several types of punches and blocks), most of the stances, and a form (Moi Fah is the first form I teach, and it takes around 12-15 weeks to learn it). Some other clubs may teach forms much faster, but I emphasize another aspects as well (self-defense, dodging and other defense movements, partner games, application of some of the movements, etc.), so form practicing is only a small part of the class.

• Teamwork

Teamwork, respect to others, and helping each other is the ultimate philosophy of the class.

• Discipline

Respect yourself and others. Be on time, know where to stand, how to salute, etc. One mother once sent me a message, saying that her children suddenly started making their beds every morning :) 

• Moral awareness 

Character qualities are as important as physical ones. Being a good human is more than being a good athlete.

• Responsibility

I regularly let kids lead some part of the class, for example in the stretching part, everybody is responsible for one exercise. With the usage of a foam noodle or a light touch, kids are also learning how to "attack" their partners with control and without hurting anyone.  

Typical troubles 

What can be the typical worries puzzling your kid?

• I am slower than others

The class is of similar age group, such as 7-10 years old, but still there are many differences in the children. Not only in the age, but also some are better with the coordination than others, some run faster etc. I support every kid who is interested, no matter how fast they learn or run. The training is what make them run faster and learn easier. 

• It is too fast

I prefer to have children of the same level in one group, but it happens that there is somebody of a lower level, who is forced to "catch up". However, each kid can move up the stripes levels in their own speed, no matter what level is the majority of the group.  

• I am tired

There are slower and faster parts of the class, so the children can both spend some of their energy, and relax. There are regular water breaks. Anyone who is feeling unwell is welcome to sit down. 

• I don't like that part / I want more games

Kung fu is very complex art, containing many different areas, such as punching and kicking, forms, partner exercises, stretching etc. I do not like drilling the kids on techniques, most often I use games for that drilling purpose. But still, everyone has their own least favourite part of the class. Forms are also very important, they are like books of techniques. By learning the forms, we learn to become a warrior. 

• When will I get another stripe?

Each of the first few levels takes around 10-15 weeks. The white one (the first one) is shorter. The more advanced levels, after around 2 years, get longer.  

• Do I need to fight other kids?

Kung fu is martial arts and fighting / self-defense is important core of it. In my class, and especially with the younger kids, I use at first foam noodles to get them used to some contect, when they learn how to defend and dodge punches. Later, they will do some partner exercises with touch, similar to "tag game" and finally they may experience some very basic version of sparring with a light touch. I do not support fighting among the children. On the other hand, how to handle being lighly touched or hit with a foam noodle, and at the same time how to hit the boxing pads hard but pat a partner gently and with control, is also a big part of being a martial artist. 

Thank you
for being supportive
​ on your child's
​kung fu journey