Teaching kids can be really difficult. This is no exception when trying to teach kids tae kwon do.Through all of my years mentoring there are many things I have learned about effectively teaching kids and I have summed them up for you in 6 simple principles.
6 Principles of Effectively Teaching Kids
1.) Fun is the most important principle because kids who don't have fun are less likely to pay attention and want to continue learning. Kids that have fun while learning seem to be more receptive to knowledge and wisdom. Also kids really come to have respect and affection for leaders that know how to have fun and have fun with them.
2.) Share Knowledge; knowledge can usually be applied at many times in life and in many ways. Teach knowledge in a comprehensible easy to remember ways. As an instructor, be open to questions and different answers. Curiosity does not always equal bad.
3.) Discipline; to maintain a good relationship with kids, discipline is an absolute must and necessary evil. All kids are different, so keep in mind that discipline is different for every child. If you have high expectations and use pushups wisely usually a group of kids will know what you expect and behave accordingly. Sometimes "the look" is more than enough. And bear in mind that discipline in any martial art is so, so, so important, because you are teaching your students how to effectively use their bodies as a weapon and great responsibility comes with that.
4.) Have Standards, and set these standards high, but not unreachable. Adjust them as necessary, all kids are different, some need the bars set high, some need them set lower. If you set high standards, kids will rise to meet the occasion. By having standards you hold your students and yourself accountable.
5.) Account for: Physical, Mental, Emotional and Spiritual Health. Everyone comes from a different background, what is good for some will not be good for others. This means that as a teacher or mentor you must be fluid and able to adapt and relate in many situations. Plus these 4 states of being tend to be key in a child's, really anyone's success. Balance of them in teaching and communication are extremely important, mainly because the aforementioned states of being have a heavy influence in our daily lives and when one thing is out of balance, behavior is affected.
6.) Accept: the students as they are as individuals, that some will not rise to your standards because they need to find the motivation within themselves, and accept that not all students are cut out for tae kwon do, some will fail and some will quit and that is totally okay.
Questions after this article? Leave them in the comments below!
Spar Like a Girl!
Sossina
Saturday, April 16, 2016
Thursday, April 14, 2016
The Tenants, The Oath, and The Code of Tae Kwon Do: A Series
The Tenants of Tae Kwon Do
Courtesy
Integrity
Perseverance
Self Control
Indomitable Spirit
The Oath of Tae Kwon Do
I shall observe the tenants of Tae Kwon Do.
I shall respect my instructors and seniors.
I shall never misuse Tae Kwon Do.
I shall be a champion of freedom and justice.
I shall help to build a more peaceful world.
The Five Point Code of Conduct
- Be loyal to your king
- Be obedient to your parents
- Be honorable to your friends
- Never retreat in battle
- Always make a just kill
What makes the oath, tenants and code so important is that they are essential guidelines for living an honorable life. And although some of the phrases may seem out dated, they are very much applicable today. The oath and tenants are learned when a student is a white belt. They are often repeated at the end of every class, before class closes. By repeating the oath and tenants together as a class, we are each held accountable by our peers to the highest standards and meanings of each phrase. As part of a person's training knowledge of the above things becomes crucial. In the next couple of blog posts, I look forward to dissecting and discussing the in depth meanings of the aspects of the: tenants, oath and code.
Spar like a girl!
Sossina
Spar like a girl!
Sossina
Sunday, April 10, 2016
Tae Kwon Do in Color: The Meanings of the Belt Ranks
Believe it or not, the belt ranks in many a martial artstell a story or provide a path of guidance for the practicer. Below I will share with you the meanings of the belt ranks as I learned them growing up in tae kwon do, under the instruction of Mr. Hurley and then Mr. Chamberlain, and with a little symbolic interpretation from me.
The White Belt represents purity and the beginning of a new journey. It also represents the openness of the student to learn.
The Yellow Belt represents the seed of Tae Kwon Do being planted in the student. Some also say that it represents the earth that the seed gets planted in.
The Green Belt represents the plant that grows from the seed.
The Blue Belt represents the deepest depths of the ocean and the farthest heights of the sky, that your knowledge and potential for Tae Kwon Do are limitless and undefined. Some say it also represents the rain that falls upon the plant of Tae Kwon Do, helping it to grow and mature.
The Red Belt represents danger. This is the stage in your journey where you are the most dangerous. You are learning many things and trying to gain self control. Some also say that it represents fire and passion for learning the art of Tae Kwon Do.
The Black Belt is the combination of all the colored belts. It represents an accumulation of knowledge and skill. The first degree black belt is the symbol of the beginning of another journey.
My instructors used to tell us that the colored belts were a more recent part of TKD and that originally a martial arts student would wear a white belt over and over and never wash it. Eventually after plenty of time spent studying and practicing, the blood, sweat and dirt would turn it black and you would know you'd earned it.
In total there are 10 ranks before 1st degree black belt. Between each of the colors listed above is a tipped color. For example between White Belt and Yellow Belt is White Belt with Yellow tips. To me the tipped belt ranks represent a more in depth sense of learning and achievement for where ever you are on the color scale. It is important to note that every tipped rank comes with its own form, techniques, terminology and teachings.
Personally, I believe the story of the belt ranks to be an important one. Mr.Chamberlain used to tell us the story of the belt ranks after a testing when our fellow peers were about to recieve to ranks they had earned. Some of my most fond memories of Tae Kwon Do class were spent hanging on every single word of the Belt rank meanings. As a young student, I aspired to be the seed and grow into the plant and be watered by the knowledge and reach the depths of the sea and to overcome and control the great danger that was inside me and to once again become whole and start the journey all over again.
So if you are a teacher, I want to take this moment to encourage you to tell this story, because your words have more weight than you could possibly ever know.
Speak like a girl, Spar like a girl!
-Sossina
The White Belt represents purity and the beginning of a new journey. It also represents the openness of the student to learn.
The Yellow Belt represents the seed of Tae Kwon Do being planted in the student. Some also say that it represents the earth that the seed gets planted in.
The Green Belt represents the plant that grows from the seed.
The Blue Belt represents the deepest depths of the ocean and the farthest heights of the sky, that your knowledge and potential for Tae Kwon Do are limitless and undefined. Some say it also represents the rain that falls upon the plant of Tae Kwon Do, helping it to grow and mature.
The Red Belt represents danger. This is the stage in your journey where you are the most dangerous. You are learning many things and trying to gain self control. Some also say that it represents fire and passion for learning the art of Tae Kwon Do.
The Black Belt is the combination of all the colored belts. It represents an accumulation of knowledge and skill. The first degree black belt is the symbol of the beginning of another journey.
My instructors used to tell us that the colored belts were a more recent part of TKD and that originally a martial arts student would wear a white belt over and over and never wash it. Eventually after plenty of time spent studying and practicing, the blood, sweat and dirt would turn it black and you would know you'd earned it.
In total there are 10 ranks before 1st degree black belt. Between each of the colors listed above is a tipped color. For example between White Belt and Yellow Belt is White Belt with Yellow tips. To me the tipped belt ranks represent a more in depth sense of learning and achievement for where ever you are on the color scale. It is important to note that every tipped rank comes with its own form, techniques, terminology and teachings.
Personally, I believe the story of the belt ranks to be an important one. Mr.Chamberlain used to tell us the story of the belt ranks after a testing when our fellow peers were about to recieve to ranks they had earned. Some of my most fond memories of Tae Kwon Do class were spent hanging on every single word of the Belt rank meanings. As a young student, I aspired to be the seed and grow into the plant and be watered by the knowledge and reach the depths of the sea and to overcome and control the great danger that was inside me and to once again become whole and start the journey all over again.
So if you are a teacher, I want to take this moment to encourage you to tell this story, because your words have more weight than you could possibly ever know.
Speak like a girl, Spar like a girl!
-Sossina
Friday, April 8, 2016
Let's Talk About Tae Kwon Do
Disclaimer: First of all, I am by no means a master of Tae Kwon Do, nor am I an expert on life.
So who am I? I am a 20yr old female. I also have my 1st Dan (1st Degree) black belt in Tae Kwon Do. I have been mentoring my peers and students in TKD philosophy, forms and meditation since I was in late middle school, high school and now still in college. My whole family started out in TKD together. Eventually my mother and sister dropped out and my dad and I continued up until our blue tip rank together until his back got bad. I come from a family of teachers and their mentoring has made me quite the mentor/teacher in my own life. I currently reside in Wisconsin and study/assistant teach TKD in Omro. Next year, June 2017 I hope to test for my 2nd degree black belt.
Who is Tae Kwon Do For? There are many things I believe about TKD, but perhaps one of the most important is that, tae kwon do is for everyone. As an assistant instructor, I have never met a willing student that I could not teach. I have coached kids and adults alike with a variety of disabilities. A skilled instructor modifies and critiques TKD movements and traditions to his/her students needs.
What do you gain by engaging in Tae Kwon Do? When I started TKD in the 3rd grade, I didn't understand why my parents put me in a martial arts class with a whole bunch of people I didn't know. I didn't understand what they were doing or why they meditated or dressed so funny. But as a grew, things became clearer. You don't master Tae Kwon Do, it masters you: mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally. The TDK tenets and oath become a way of life, guidelines for living a true and noble life.
So who am I? I am a 20yr old female. I also have my 1st Dan (1st Degree) black belt in Tae Kwon Do. I have been mentoring my peers and students in TKD philosophy, forms and meditation since I was in late middle school, high school and now still in college. My whole family started out in TKD together. Eventually my mother and sister dropped out and my dad and I continued up until our blue tip rank together until his back got bad. I come from a family of teachers and their mentoring has made me quite the mentor/teacher in my own life. I currently reside in Wisconsin and study/assistant teach TKD in Omro. Next year, June 2017 I hope to test for my 2nd degree black belt.
Who is Tae Kwon Do For? There are many things I believe about TKD, but perhaps one of the most important is that, tae kwon do is for everyone. As an assistant instructor, I have never met a willing student that I could not teach. I have coached kids and adults alike with a variety of disabilities. A skilled instructor modifies and critiques TKD movements and traditions to his/her students needs.
What do you gain by engaging in Tae Kwon Do? When I started TKD in the 3rd grade, I didn't understand why my parents put me in a martial arts class with a whole bunch of people I didn't know. I didn't understand what they were doing or why they meditated or dressed so funny. But as a grew, things became clearer. You don't master Tae Kwon Do, it masters you: mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally. The TDK tenets and oath become a way of life, guidelines for living a true and noble life.
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