Training drills: Set 1

Animal warm-ups

While exercising, children make the sound the animal makes.

• Duck. Squat and grab ankles with arms on the inside of knees, now walk (kids can also quack)
• Bear. On all fours, arms and legs straight. Movie left arm and right leg at the same time and then right arm and left leg.
• Giraffe. Similar to bear, but move right arm and right leg together and then the left side together.
• Butterfly. Sit with soles of feet touching each other. Knees out to side and push down lightly.
• Crab. Supine on all fours, walk forward, and backward.
• Crane. Balance on one foot with other foot resting at knee area.
• Eagle. Balance on one foot and wrap the other leg around the supporting leg. Wrap arms around each other and touch hand to nose.
• Rabbit. From a deep squat, hop up and leap as far forward as you.

Push-push

Place two 5'x10' mats. Have 4 students stand around the mats help stop people who are pushed out. Two students start on mats and try to push each other off the mat. No grabbing or throwing, only open hand pushing.

Paddle grab

Line up all the kids across the back of the room as though they were going to sprint to the other end. Tell them to put their backs to you and do not turn around. Then throw target paddles all over the room. The number of paddles you use depends on the number of kids (always use one less paddle than the total number of kids). When you yell ”Go!”, the kids have to turn, run, and get a paddle, and return to the line where they started. If you do not get a paddle, you are out. Remove a paddle and play again,. Play until there is a winner. One way to play is to have girls go first, then the boys. Then take the top 2 from each group and have them play for the championship.

Belt sparring  

Equipment Setup: Cut old belts into 14" belt lengths. Put red tape on the tips of four of them (labels them and helps prevent unraveling). Use black tape another four pieces.  Make as many 8 piece sets as you need. Divide students into two teams (may also team students against parents). Each student will place belt pieces of the same color under the current belt (2 in front and 2 in back). Rules: no punching, kicking, biting, choking, or crying. May only use open hand block or parry to avoid their pieces from being taken. Call everyone to Attention! bow! Fighting stance! and Begin! Students try to pull all of the opponents’ belt pieces and throw them on the floor. Winning teams advance to new levels just like sparring DO AS MANY ROUNDS AS YOU NEED TO GET A CHAMPION. Replace any missing pieces before next match.