> Taekwondo for afterschool?

Taekwondo for afterschool?

Posted at: 2015-05-07 
I mean no offense. You are 20 and have been teaching for 2-3 years?

Too many schools promote people too soon. Having a black belt does not make a person a teacher traditionally.

If you are an instructor you teach no matter the ages or location. You have your standards and it is up to them to do what is expected. If you are just trying to make the class fun you should rethink whether or not you are prepared for this type of responsibility. Martial art training the focus should not be ob having fun. Nothing wrong with a class being fun. My class can be fun, but the focus is on learn life preservation skills. Some might not fond my class fun. If they don't like it they need to leave or find something else they would prefer. If they are doing that much talking you have not done your job as the instructor.

I've taught martial arts in an after-school program with this age children. I've taught computer skills to students this age. Working with children (middle school) is not difficult. It takes the right person. I've also coached basketball and football to this age group.

Those that came wanted to be there. If they didn't like it or couldn't handle it the didn't continue to come. My classes were always large. I would need to turn some away. If they are uninterested you probably have not made it interesting. You don't have there attention. You don't have their respect. If thing are going well in my class it is my fault. It is not that I need to make a class more fun. I will make the class challenging. It will be hard. Those that really want to train will prove it by keep coming back. I prefer to make my classes smaller.

My teacher did this too for charter schools and he gave up after a few years. This age is difficult and no matter how much fun he tried to make it the kids are so damaged you can not reach them. They simply do not want to be there. Discipline starts in the home and a lot of kids have one parent or other problems at home and they never learned discipline let alone respect. You can not approach it with simply martial arts. I have to agree with possum. You need training in special needs children and approach it from that angle and even then it will be a difficult task. That's why often special needs children are taught on a one on one basis and not in a class in public school and then integrated slowly. Even a small group if there is enough problems it is impossible to teach as each person will like something different and you will never be able to please all of the kids. Can't please them, they don't cooperate.

If you could get the cooperation of the parents to instill some discipline it might help. But on your own.....

So you are a 20 year old that says he has a black belt in Taekwondo, Yet you don't seem to know that a Taekwondo school is not called a Dojo. Tells me that either you have had very poor instruction so far or you are lying. The question that comes to mind is do you even know the style of Taekwondo you supposedly know? Yes that's right there are at least 75 different styles that are known as Taekwondo styles...

Perhaps your problem is that you don't have formal training to handle special needs people. Think about getting training in that area. Patience here is an absolute requisite. Like any parenting skill, you must set boundaries, set expectations, and set rules. You must be consistent, flexible, and fair. These are the qualities of any good instructor.

And... it's a dojang, not a dojo.

Make them sweat, make them stretch, work them hard. If they are a defiant and snobby group, you need to let them know that they should be there to work, not to look cute or be cool. Work on the pacing of the class. There should be more than enough to keep them busy between forms, sparring, basics and one-steps. Since you are young and in your prime, do some techniques and ask them to duplicate it. If they want to cop out and say "that's dumb" or "stupid" say "no, it's not, I want to see you do it" and help them learn how to do the technique. Push ups and sit ups should be your best friends. Help them get into shape by challenging them to do as many as you can or more.

Make them do their forms.

Try not to be as strict, and act as if you are their friend. Use their language, make jokes that they would appreciate, and focus on more self defense/fighting. I know that when I was a student at a martial arts school, the only reason that i quit was the ongoing hours with form... I hope that helps

Why are you teaching Korean karate in a Japanese school rather than in a dojang?

Hi, I am a 20 year old black belt teaching in different after school programs once a week. Ive been teaching in a dojo and after schools for 2-3 years now so I know how to run classes.. With elementary school kids 3-10 years old. On thursdays I work in an afterschool for middle school kids (age 11-13) and there is around 8 kids. I find it really difficult to maintain there focus and make it fun for them. You have to realize this is an afterschool program, not a dojo, so some of these kids might not even like particpating. On top of them being 11-13 years old, a very defiant and snobby age, it is an afterschool program for kids with learning disabilities. They talk a lot and seem uninterested. This is the first time this has happened to me, im used to younger kids.. Im just finding it difficult and I need some help. Anything will help. Thanks