Children's Class Weekly Re-Cap, Week of July 29, 2024
Lil’ Leopards & Tiny Tigers
In both the Lil’ Leopards and Tiny Tigers classes last week we worked on our Keystone Principles. The Keystone Principles are the basic techniques that provide the building blocks for our Kung Fu, and include our stances, kicks, strikes and blocks. We challenged the students with a variety of these as they worked their way through different stations.
Young Dragons
In our Young Dragon’s classes this past week we worked on our reaction time. Our ability to react quickly is integral to success with many things as a martial artist, including how quickly we can react to a threat. This week we played a new game that challenged our reaction time, as well as provided alot of laughs.
Special Announcements for All Classes
Our next open training is this Saturday, August 10 from 10am-12noon.
Children's Class Weekly Re-Cap, Week of July 22, 2024
Lil’ Leopards & Tiny Tigers
In both Lil’ Leopards and Tiny Tigers last week we got to do an obstacle course! An obstacle course is a great way for us to incorporate various different drills all into one. There is a sense of competition and urgency that creates excitement and energy, but also various stopping points that challenge them to apply their Kung Fu skills.
Young Dragons
In our Young Dragon’s classes this past week we challenged the students, in teams, to come up with a team combination. A combination is a sequence of techniques linked together in a way that makes sense and flows. They were also given some specific requirements in that their sequence needed to include at least 1 strike, 1 block and 1 kick. Building a strong combination is not an easy task. It becomes harder in a team because you now have to factor in everyone’s skills and opinions. The students did amazingly well and we were so pleased with some of the insights that they discovered during this activity.
Special Announcements for All Classes
Our next open training is Saturday, August 10 from 10am-12noon.
Children's Class Weekly Re-Cap, Week of July 15, 2024
Lil’ Leopards & Tiny Tigers
In both Lil’ Leopards and Tiny Tigers last week we got to do some pool noodle sword fighting! The majority of drills and activities that we do in class are very structured. However, pool noodle sword fighting gives us the opportunity to apply some of the things we are learning in a very organic and free-style way. The student are challenged to develop their eye for detail and reaction time by reading their opponents’ movements and blocking and countering effectively.
Young Dragons
In our Young Dragon’s classes this past week we found ourselves with an amazing opportunity to work 1-on-1 with an instructor on our Stick form. Working 1-on-1 can be incredibly beneficial as the lessons will be specifically geared to the individual student. Unfortunately this is a rare occurrence in a typical class setting, which is why we also offer the weekly Zoom 1-on-1s to all students. Students that regularly utilize the 1-on-1s are able to improve and progress at an incredible rate. Visit the website’s Student section to book.
Special Announcements for All Classes
No announcements at this time.
Children's Class Weekly Re-Cap, Week of July 8, 2024
Lil’ Leopards
In Lil’ Leopards last week we did something a little different and read the book “Big Bear Hug” - by Nicholas Oldland. This story explores themes around environmental sustainability and anger management. Our goal isn’t only to build physically adept martial artists, but also well balanced, confident, empathetic human beings that will go on to accomplish great things in the community and the world beyond.
Tiny Tigers
Last week in Tiny Tigers we worked on a couple of basics, our horse stance and our front thrust punch. These two things are keystone principles that we learn very early in our training and that we continue to perfect as Black Belts and beyond. If we want to be good martial artists, we better have a good punch!
What is the favourite drink of a Kung Fu martial artist?…….Punch 😂
Young Dragons
In our Young Dragon’s classes this past week we learned a new defensive application against a haymaker! We have many different defensive techniques meant for various different attacks. Grabs, chokes, haymakers, weapons…to name a few. All of the defense applications we learn are very versatile and can be altered in the moment depending on the specific situation. Our goal is to teach our students a wide variety of applications, so that if the need ever arises, they can respond without hesitation.
Special Announcements for All Classes
No announcements at this time.
How to Keep Your Children Engaged- Part III
Part III- What To Do When They Don‘t Want To
It’s Inevitable
At some point your child will lose interest. A new sport or club will catch their eye and Kung Fu will lose its shine. I myself went through hockey, jazz, softball, swimming, guitar, singing and soccer before Kung Fu came along. And I can guarantee you that Kung Fu would have joined the list of rejected activities had the decision been mine to make.
I was lucky that my parents recognized the impact Kung Fu was having on my life before I hit the “I want to quit” stage. I wasn’t old enough to weigh the pros and cons, I just know that I wanted to do what all my friends were doing instead- volleyball. I had every reason laid out for my argument; it was too late in the evening, I wasn’t having fun, I wasn’t progressing, I was missing out on time with my friends. It didn’t work. My mom didn’t even entertain the idea, just told me that quitting wasn’t an option. After much whining, bellyaching and arguing, I resigned myself to the idea that I wasn’t quitting. I made it difficult on her, dragged when it was time to leave, grumbled on the way there. And my poor parents had two of us to deal with at this time.
Keep Your Power
This is the most important part of the puzzle. You are the parent. Your job is to prepare your child for adulthood to the best of your ability. Children do not yet have the capacity to gauge the impact of the decisions they make. Do not give your child the power to make this decision.It may be that the best decision for your child is to walk away, but that is your decision to make. Only you can weigh the pros and cons, look forward at the impact of the decision beyond the current situation.
The moment that you tell your child “when X occurs then you can quit” or “lets finish this month and see how you feel then”, it’s done, they will quit. You gave away your power.
We have never seen a child continue past this point when given control of the decision. No matter how much they enjoy their class or how much benefit they are receiving, there is only one thing on their mind. The day they can quit. At this point, it’s over.
Keep your power. It is your decision.
Look For A Way
Of course, this does not mean your child does not get a voice. If your child is feeling frustrated or anxious, this needs to be discussed and a solution needs to be found. Talk to your child, let them voice their opinions and their feelings. Make sure they feel heard and understood. Find a way to work through these issues and make things right again. Make a plan together. Talk to your instructors; let us know what we can do and how we can help. Get us involved early, we’re not unfamiliar with these situations. We can take action and may have some insights we can share with you. We’re not here to shut them down. We’re here to build them up.
Set Them Up For Success
We all change. I was a timid, shy girl who would rather not be seen than be seen as weak or uncool. I conformed instead of reformed. I made poor choices because I was scared to say anything. I was an easy target.
Then I began to find my confidence and recognized when I had a choice to make. I grew the strength to choose differently. I began to recognize my impact on others.
I began to form values and opinions. I began to care less about popularity and more about being who I could be and who I wanted to be.
I now value quality over quantity, happiness over bottom lines, life over convenience. I care about what impact I make on others and the world around me. I make the hard choices and do my best to leave this world better than I found it.
I am strong enough to voice my opinions. I am confident enough to admit my mistakes.
It was not an easy road. I fought it, I rebelled, I made bad decisions. I still stumble. But I am happy with who I see in the mirror.
And now, I have two of my own at the beginning of their journeys through Kung Fu. I am lucky and grateful that I have had the experiences I’ve had, the opportunities that were given to me by my mother. I can already see what Kung Fu is doing for my children, and I can see the impact that my own training has on theirs. If you ask them what they want to be when they grow up, they’ll give you a different answer each time. Regardless, I know that they are developing the tools they will need no matter the path they choose in life.
Children's Class Weekly Re-Cap, Week of June 17, 2024
Lil’ Leopards and Tiny Tigers
This week in both Lil’ Leopards and Tiny Tigers we worked on our animal poses and had some animal races. Although it is always fun and entertaining to mimic animals in play, there is a much more important underlying lesson in these types of activities. Many different techniques in Kung Fu are based on the movements of animals. Our 5 main animals of Kung Fu are the crane, leopard, snake, tiger and dragon. Animals, unlike humans of today, react to situations quickly and with confidence. They don’t spend time second guessing and their bodies do what is needed to support their intent. This is a lesson that we will learn over and over through to our black belt and beyond.
Young Dragons
In our Young Dragon’s classes this week we focused on our Dynamic Control curriculum. For Young Dragons Level 1 that meant working with our Stick and for Level 2 that meant learning more about the Broadsword. Dynamic Control is a very important part of our training. Not only does a weapon give us an advantage over an opponent, but alternatively, learning how to use a weapon also teaches us how to defend against it.
Special Announcements for All Classes
No announcements at this time.
How to Keep Your Children Engaged- Part II
Part II- Engage Everyone
Be Involved
As with anything, you won’t see or reap any benefits unless you’re involved. And I don’t mean just your children, you the parent too. Children with parents who are actively involved, who watch classes, encourage their kids and ask questions, those are the students who thrive and who have the ability to work through the hard times. Why? Because they are not alone, they have parents who work equally as hard with and for them because they too see and reap the benefits.
What Can You Do For Your Child?
Be interested. Children need encouragement and acceptance. If mom or dad seem indifferent to their activities or accomplishments then they learn that there is no value to what they are doing or achieving. This will only decrease their confidence in themselves, not build it up.
Approach their classes with a positive attitude. If classes become a chore or a job then the fun is gone and the resistance will start. Your children need to recognize that Kung Fu is important, but they need to be able to enjoy it.
Set them up for success. Get them to class on time. Help them be responsible for their uniform and gear. Make sure their environment is congruent to their goals; focus is a key to Kung Fu and to life. Noise and distractions will not allow them to get everything they can out of a given lesson.
Join in! Our kids mimic and learn from us. Participate as a family in our events, or join classes yourself. If they see us having fun they’ll be more inclined to enjoy themselves. A family activity will outlast an individual activity because everyone has a part to play and understands the value. The time spent will be time invested. And you yourself will develop understanding and skills, giving you the ability to help your child and maybe picking up a thing or two to benefit yourself. Our most successful students are most often from a family that is heavily involved.
A Little Goes A Long Way
Any student at Silent River Kung Fu has heard the term incremental progression. Tiny steps, with time, create great change. What you do with your children, no matter how insignificant it seems at the time, has the potential of creating life changing ripples, influencing their perspectives, values and choices. Be sure to create habits and routines with your child that supports your ultimate goal; raising a happy, healthy, self sufficient and confident individual.
So get involved. If you do, you will see and understand the value. If you understand the value, it’s easy to be committed and this will filter down to your child. In other words, half the work is done.
Children's Class Weekly Re-Cap, Week of June 10, 2024
Lil’ Leopards
This week in Lil’ Leopards we did an obstacle course. As we worked our way through, we encountered several different stations where we had to kick or punch through small hoops with extreme accuracy or risk the hoop flying!
Tiny Tigers
In Tiny Tigers this week we were given many challenges using bean bags. Things like throwing and catching with one hand, tossing the bean bag back and forth between two hands and even tossing the bean bag up and trying to catch it with our foot! Not only were these drills lots of fun and filled with laughter, but they also teach us much about hand/eye coordination and dynamic control, both very important things that we will need once we start utilizing weapons in our training. We also got to play a game of “Horse and Snake”!
Young Dragons
In our Young Dragon’s classes this week, in teams of 2 we were challenged with doing as many reps of a particular technique as we could in only 20 seconds, while still maintaining our technique. We were also tasked with counting our reps and then reporting them afterwards. It was pretty cool to see that in only 4 minutes total time, the 2 classes completed over 3300 reps of these techniques!! Well done everyone!
We also had a special a warmup leader this week in Young Dragons 2; Todai Blake Carlson! He did a fantastic job getting everyone warm…and sweaty!
Special Announcements for All Classes
There are special announcements at this time.
How To Keep You Children Engaged- Part I
Part I- It’s In Your Perspective
Balance
The fluttering interests of children are a natural part of their curiosity. Children are interested in anything and everything new, exploring their world and gaining experiences that will help them grow into happy, healthy young adults.
I encourage the curious nature in my own children. I hope they see wonder in everything they come across and continue to explore into their adult years. However, I also have to recognize that my children will not have the ability to extrapolate and foresee the effects of their decisions, for good or bad. Kids truly live in the moment. We adults need to find the balance between letting them and looking out for their futures.
Keep Your Perspective
Your children will undoubtedly lose interest in their Kung Fu for periods of time. It’ll lose its shine, it’ll become mundane. At this time we will be tempted to let them quit to try a new sport or new activity, hoping to find one that they will want to endure with.
This is when we need to keep our perspectives absolutely clear and in front of ourselves. We need to identify, acknowledge and weigh the benefits your child has experienced because of their Kung Fu. We need to have the ability to foresee the benefits they have yet to gain. And we have to act upon their best interests.
People often talk about finding a “spark”, something that invokes a passion. The thing is, passion is built, slowly over time. We do not simply find it. We start with an interest, and it builds from there. Kung Fu can be their passion, given it has the opportunity to develop.
What Can Kung Fu Do for Your Child?
For me, this is an easy answer because I’ve experienced it first hand. My number one answer is confidence. They will gain confidence in themselves as a byproduct of developing a healthy self image and self esteem.
They will learn that they can accomplish their goals, but also that nothing comes for free. The value of their accomplishments will increase because they will know they earned it.
They will develop a drive to continue to accomplish and to push themselves beyond any limits they may come across. They will reject the idea of “I can’t”. They will reject mediocrity. They will plan and work towards their future.
They will learn discipline. This will help them stay motivated when things get tough. This will help them through high school and into university. This will help them get the job, excel in their field and build a life they can be proud of.
The will be healthier. Physically, emotionally and mentally. Kung Fu builds physical strength, and mental fortitude. They will become aware of their choices and consciously develop better habits. They will have the ability to manage tough situations.
They will have enough respect for themselves to say no. It could be their best friend or a romantic interest. When the time comes, they will have the confidence to say no when pushed towards something they are uncomfortable with or know to be wrong.
The will have respect for other people and the world around them. They will understand that their decisions affect more than just themselves. They can be the change they want to see in the world.
The Long Term
Of course, these changes occur over time. Many of our lessons are planted as seeds. Seeds take time and nurturance to grow, so not all benefits will be apparent at the beginning. It takes time to develop self respect and self discipline, to change or create habits. And like any practice, you only get to keep the benefits as long as you continue to train and apply yourself.
Children's Class Weekly Re-Cap, Week of June 3, 2024
Lil’ Leopards
This week in Lil’ Leopards we got to hone our skills on one of our instructors! It was a good thing he was geared up because our kicks and punches are getting pretty awesome!
Tiny Tigers
In Tiny Tigers this week we got to play with our parachute. The parachute provides opportunities for developing many skills; team work, hand-eye coordination and dynamic control to name a few. On top of that, we always incorporate specific techniques like kicks, punches, pushups, etc using our special Kung Fu dice! Ask your children what items we were able to toss right up to the ceiling working as a team with the parachute!
Young Dragons
In our Young Dragon’s classes this week our main focus was on what we call “Vocabulary of Motion”. When we work on various techniques, repetition is a key component for improvement. So we will do 20 reps of a kick, or a punch, or a block…with the intent on improving that specific technique. But when it comes to a more real-life application, we also need to be able to string together several techniques with both flow and purpose….creating a sentence…rather than just individual words. Ask your child is they remember the first 8 techniques in the sequence that we practiced!
Special Announcements for All Classes
There are special announcements at this time.
Children's Class Weekly Re-Cap, Week of May 20
All Classes
A huge congratulations to all students that participated in this past Saturday’s Tiger Challenge Tournament. Not only does the Tiger Challenge motivate us to work hard in a physical capacity, but it also challenges us to push ourselves out of our comfort zones. It is not easy to speak in front of a panel of judges. It is not easy to put your skills on display and be scored and ranked. It takes a tremendous amount of courage and every single student should be very proud of what they accomplished.
Special Announcements for All Classes
The Farmer’s Day Parade will take place on Saturday June 1. SRKF will be entering a float and all students are welcome to join! Please note that children 12 and under need to be accompanied by a parent.
Our next open training is Saturday June 8 from 10am-noon.
Children's Class Weekly Re-Cap, Week of May 13
All Classes
This past week we continued working on various aspects of Kung Fu geared towards the upcoming Tiger Challenge. The Tiger Challenge is a great way to generate motivation and momentum in our training. It is also a great way for our students to set and work hard towards a goal.
If unsure, the following are some things that the students can be practicing at home.
For the Lil Leopards and Tiny Tigers, practicing the longevity of their crane stance as well as the 5 animal postures will be a great way to prepare.
For the Young Dragons, it will be important that they know and practice their board breaking combinations in advance. Other than that, the single most important thing to practice will be their forms. Their forms will benefit them in all events, from the obstacle course to sparring. If ever in doubt, practice your forms.
Special Announcements for All Classes
The Tiger Challenge is fast approaching!! Please use the following link for more info.
The Farmer’s Day Parade will take place on Saturday June 1. SRKF will be entering a float and all students are welcome to join! Please note that children 12 and under need to be accompanied by a parent.
Children's Class Weekly Re-Cap, Week of May 6
All Classes
In all of our classes this past week we have been focusing on content that will be important for the upcoming Tiger Challenge.
For the Lil Leopards and Tiny Tigers that means things like our animal postures, holding a crane stance and bean bag relays. For the Young Dragons we’ve been working hard on our Lao Gar, Da Mu Hsing and Stick forms. Although we are getting lots of practice in during class, it’s important that the students practice at home as well so they are well prepared for the tournament!
Not only does the Tiger Challenge provide an, often much-needed, training goal, it is also an incredible opportunity to develop our confidence. We want our students to grow into strong and confident leaders, and that often means stepping out of our comfort zone and doing something that might seem scary.
Every single one of our students has both the skill and the courage to participate and we are looking forward to seeing them there!
Special Announcements for All Classes
The Tiger Challenge is fast approaching!! Please use the following link for more info.
The Farmer’s Day Parade will take place on Saturday June 1. SRKF will be entering a float and all students are welcome to join! Please note that children 12 and under need to be accompanied by a parent.
Children's Class Weekly Re-Cap, Week of April 29
Lil’ Leopards
In Lil Leopards this week we got to do some pool noodle sword fighting! This activity is not only fun, but also develops skills like control, agility and an eye for detail.
Tiny Tigers
In the Tiny Tigers class this week we did head to head obstacle course relay races! Competition can be alot of fun as well as a good motivator. It drives us to work harder and gives us something to achieve. However, more important than winning, is trying to always shoot for our own personal best. If we can improve our ourselves just a little bit every time, that is when we truly win.
Young Dragons
For our Young Dragons Classes, we’ve been working on Stick form. Stick form is the first weapon form that we teach to our students. The stick acts as a basis for all other weapons and is integral to developing our ability to both wield and control a weapon in the most effective way. Once we master the stick, it opens up a wide variety of other weapons to pursue.
Special Announcements for All Classes
Our next open training is this Saturday, May 11 from 10-12noon.
The Tiger Challenge is fast approaching!! Please use the following link for more info.
Children's Class Weekly Re-Cap, Week of April 15
All Classes
This week brought an extra special event; our annual clean-up at Rotary Park in Stony Plain.
We participate in this event, not only as part of our commitment to community projects, but also in recognition of Earth Day, which takes place today, April 22.
This year was probably the best participant turn out we have ever had, with the majority of participants being students from our children’s classes, along with their families. We are so proud of our students for taking their Kung Fu out of the Kwoon and into the world.
Special Announcements for All Classes
The Tiger Challenge is fast approaching!! Please use the following link for more info.
Children's Class Weekly Re-Cap, April 9-11
Lil’ Leopards & Tiny Tigers
In both the Lil’ Leopards and Tiny Tigers classes this week our main focus was on balance and agility. Using relays to the heavy bags, as well as obstacles along the way, we challenged the students to work on these skills while also developing their kicks and cardio!
Young Dragons Level 1
In our Young Dragons classes this week we spent the majority of our time working on our shoulder rolls. We typically introduce shoulder rolls slowly, to ensure that we are doing them safely. We have also come to recognize that our students can differ greatly in how they are able to both mentally comprehend the mechanics and then perform the steps physically. To help the students with this, we introduced shoulder rolls in a few different ways so that the students can try them all and find a way that works for them.
Young Dragons Level 2
In Young Dragons Level 2 we focused on sparring. For most students, this will have been their first exposure to sparring and so we made sure to move slow. Sparring is an excellent way to apply all of the things we learn in Kung Fu, but in a real-life scenario that is still monitored and safe. From the basic strikes and blocks…to staying calm and in control….it challenges us to utilize a wide variety of skills that we are constantly developing throughout our curriculum. Not only did they learn alot this week, but they all had a blast!
Special Announcements for All Classes
In recognition of Earth Day, we will be organizing a cleanup of Rotary Park in Stony Plain on Saturday April 20 from 10-noon. Please use the following link for more info.
The Tiger Challenge is fast approaching!! Please use the following link for more info.
Character Development in the Martial Arts
Kung Fu is about more than kicking or punching. Teaching empathy, respect and self discipline is key when it comes helping students develop into well rounded martial artists. These are the lessons that we strive to instil into all aspects of their lives, developing their character and ability to achieve their goals.
I would like to share an excerpt (with permission from his mom) from an email from a teacher of a Young Dragon. Joel has received a chih star on behalf of his teacher, his mother and his instructors, all of whom are proud of the kid he’s developing into.
“Joel is a crucial part to our classroom community. He is always willing to help in the classroom, especially with cleaning up and stacking chairs. His eagerness to assist his peers and his attention to keeping our classroom tidy is greatly appreciated.”
His mother let us know that Joel is the only child that stays at the school’s afterschool care program, and once the other kids leave for the day, he stays and helps his teacher cleanup.
It is not about the tasks a child completes, but about the spirit in which a child engages.
Information on our Chih Star program can be found here- https://www.silentriverkungfu.ca/childrens-badge-award-system
Children's Class Weekly Re-Cap, April 2-4
Lil’ Leopards
In the Lil’ Leopards class this week our main focus was on agility. Using an obstacle course, we challenged the students to maneuver around cones, jump over and crawl under bars, all while developing spacial awareness and control by not knocking anything over. These seemingly basic skills are essential in developing our Kung Fu and becoming successful martial artists in the future.
Tiny Tigers
This week in Tiny Tigers we worked on our balance. By practicing things like walking on a balance beam, holding a crane stance on dots and “tightrope” walking along a belt, we challenged the students to maintain their balance throughout. Balance is something that requires constant attention for the span of our martial arts careers. As we grow physically, as our skill increases and we attempt new things, as we age and need to modify and as we deal with injury or physical limitations, our center is constantly changing and shifting and we must be able to adapt.
Young Dragons Level 1&2
In our Young Dragons classes this week we had a special guest instructor, Sihing Lindstrom. Sihing Lindstrom is our resident expert in grappling, but typically teaches the adult classes. So having him come in to share some of his skill and experience with the kids was very cool and very valuable. He covered a variety of things like break falls, scoot, bridging, as well as many other ground exercises. One of the students asked an excellent question at the end of the week.
“Why are we learning this stuff on the ground when we are supposed to always stay on our feet?”
The answer,
“Yes, the goal is to stay on our feet. But we never know what might happen. And should we ever be taken down, we need to know how to both defend ourselves in that position and gain back our control.”
Our goal, as always, is to develop well rounded martial artists with a variety of skills to prepare them for anything life might throw at them…both on and off the mats.
Special Announcements for All Classes
Our next opening training is Saturday, April 13 from 10-noon.
In recognition of Earth Day, we will be organizing a cleanup of Rotary Park in Stony Plain on Saturday April 20 from 10-noon. Please use the following link for more info.
Children's Class Weekly Re-Cap, March 19-21
Lil’ Leopards
In the Lil’ Leopards class this week we got to do one of our favourite things! An obstacle course! Obstacle courses are a great way to keep the students moving, while also incorporating lots of Kung Fu. This particular week we focused on “protective” elements such as blocks and break falls, while also improving our agility.
Tiny Tigers
This week in Tiny Tigers we got to do some pool noodle sword fighting! From the outside, this activity might seem a bit chaotic, but it is actually quite structured and there are many important skills that we develop with this activity. Not only are we working on Kung Fu techniques like punches, kicks and blocks…but there is also a major emphasis on reaction time, footwork, stamina, eye for detail, and of course, good sportsmanship.
Young Dragons Level 1&2
In our Young Dragons classes this week, one of our main focusses was sparring. Our sparring drills can range from structured to free-sparring and they allow us to practice our skills in a very dynamic way. Over and above developing our technique, sparring is integral to our training in other ways. The number one rule in self defense is to stay calm. Our sparring curriculum allows us to practice this in real-time, while still providing a safe environment to do so.
Notice to Parents: In order to participate in more advanced sparring lessons, students with their yellow and orange belts will require sparring gear. To purchase sparring gear, please reach out to one of the instructors.
Special Announcements for All Classes
Spring Break takes place this week, March 25-29. There are no formal classes during this time. But make sure you are still practicing your Kung Fu!
Children's Class Weekly Re-Cap, March 12-14
Lil’ Leopards
In the Lil’ Leopards class this week we played a running game that included various Kung Fu applications like “splats”, kicks, blocks, and our animal poses. At this level, we like to keep things fast paced and interesting while still working on all of the basic techniques that we will use as the students progress.
Tiny Tigers
This week in Tiny Tigers we used a relay drill to practice our stances, kicks, punches and break falls. Not only are these drills important for developing our Kung Fu, but they are also integral to developing our ability to both remember and follow instructions as well as emphasizing respect and awareness for our instructors and fellow classmates.
Young Dragons Level 1&2
In our Young Dragons classes this week we put much of our effort towards our forms. Specifically Lao Gar. Our forms are developed as a means to practice a variety of Kung Fu in a short period of time. They include kicks, punches, blocks and stances in a variety of combinations that challenge us to utilize all 6 harmonies. Forms have been used for thousands of years for Kung fu training and there is good reason why. If your child ever wonders what they should be practicing at home, it’s their forms.
Special Announcements for All Classes
Spring Break takes place March 25-29. There are no formal classes during this time. But make sure you are still practicing your Kung Fu!