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Home » Blog » How Teaching Children Martial Arts is Like Cooking

How Teaching Children Martial Arts is Like Cooking

April 16, 2013 By Sensei Matt Klein

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Simmering the sauce patiently

Patience is needed to bring out the flavours. Same with teaching children martial arts.

Put some love into it

Just like kids, food can somehow tell when you are agro. If a person does not enjoy cooking, they will rush everything just to get through it, which brings us to……

Be patient

You can’t rush frying the onions and garlic, or fail to let the dish simmer properly on the stove. Just like children, the more you try to push them the more they will resist. You need to coax out their “flavours” and bring out their best.

Be in the moment

You have to enjoy the process and not be anywhere else. Engage fully and with all senses. I cook on weekends as it is fun and relaxing and yes, very Zen. A bonus: plenty of delicious, healthy, and cheap leftovers for the week.

Focus on strong basics

Like how to chop onions properly, make a sauce, or boil rice without it getting gluggy. The basics are doubly important for kids since they are generally unable to grasp very complex moves. Stances and footwork are key. Besides, the basics work best in a self defence situation. The complex moves, just like advanced cooking techniques, will be easier to grasp once the basics are mastered.

Constantly re-invent and refine your teaching or children will get bored

In cooking, this experimentation and going outside your comfort zone is how you get better and expand your repertoire of dishes. Be bold!

Learn to cook with your heart and teach martial arts the same way and the children will be drawn to you like a bear to honey.

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Filed Under: For the Martial Arts Instructor, Teaching Martial Arts to Kids

Comments

  1. Emily Jancek says

    April 29, 2013 at 12:11 am

    Passion for learning as well as teaching is what you get from feedback. You cook, people taste, and let you know good or bad you teach and see the results and learn how to improve and yes step out of your comfort zone every day life is an experiment and we get better with each experience along the way.

  2. Sensei Matt Klein says

    April 29, 2013 at 7:39 am

    Thanks for the comment Emily. Yes, the feedback loop is such important part of teaching and cooking, that’s why watching videos is not a complete way of learning. As long as the people tasting are being honest, and not trying to avoid hurting our feelings it works, LOL.

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mihir-joshi-kenpo-freestyle-sydneyOver the years, through Karate, I found that my confidence and self-esteem levels had sky rocketed to heights I never thought it would go. I thank Sensei Matt, and all those who have helped me in Karate, for helping me understand such values in a fun and social learning environment.
Mihir Joshi

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09/01/2014
Australia's Youth Self Defence Karate
mihir-joshi-kenpo-freestyle-sydneyOver the years, through Karate, I found that my confidence and self-esteem levels had sky rocketed to heights I never thought it would go. I thank Sensei Matt, and all those who have helped me in Karate, for helping me understand such values in a fun and social learning environment.
Mihir Joshi

See our Karate Success Stories Page for Mihir's story.
09/01/2014
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Friendly yet disciplined approach towards karate at Australia’s Youth has helped enormously. It enabled Mihir to build a sense of belonging and improved his motivation to excel. It’s amazing how learning the Martial Arts helps build confidence and improve overall personality.
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I like Karate because it is really fun and I love going on the weekend to see all my friends and Senseis. Karate makes me feel safe because I don’t worry about bullies at school because I know they can’t really hurt me.Tyvian-Macfarlne-Kenpo-Freestyle-Sydney
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09/08/2014
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The confidence karate has given Tyvian is amazing. He is takes pride in himself and he has matured. The focus, confidence and discipline he has gained through karate has transferred to other areas of his life such as educational tasks, looking after younger children both in and out of his family and demonstrating empathy for others.Robert-Macfarlane
Robert Macfarlane, father of Tyvian Macfarlane
09/08/2014
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I owe my confidence, strength, fitness and leadership skills to Karate. It has taught me to persist with everything and that the only way to improve is to try harder.Adam-Loader-Kenpo-Freestyle-Sydney
Adam Loader

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09/01/2014
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Look at what you have achieved Matt, we can’t thank you enough for your contribution to shaping these two young men. We are often complimented about the maturity of the boys and we know their Karate has played an important part in developing that maturity. Brings a tear to my eye!
loadersRobert Loader, father of Adam and Jacob Loader
09/01/2014

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