I’ve had some great feedback from instructors and students just lately, lots of fun events, classes are buzzing, numbers are good but more importantly standards are high!!
But remember – ‘Whilst things are good don’t rest on your laurels’
… so I thought I’d put together a brief list of some of the club drills my team and I do in our classes to keep things fresh! The point is that if you are looking to add variety to your classes, disguise repetition, build team work and camaraderie yet continue to develop all those key elements only martial arts can, then there are many things you can do.
Check out the following and of course feel free to add to the list!
FOCUS
1. Warrior statues, how long can you stand still and focused whilst instructors or parents are pulling faces and trying to make you laugh
2. Sir says … like ‘Simon says’ builds attention to words and commands
BALANCE
1. Hot rock drills – jumping from one focus pad to another
2. Hot Spots – pad stances and switches
3. Crane kicks on and off pads – ‘Karate kid’ with noises
MOBILITY
1. Jumping kick shields – adding on kicking techniques
2. Obstacle course techniques – see Mr Swifts FB profile for creative set ups
SPEED
1. Pad whacking drills / races
2. Tag chasing – hands on shoulders
STRENGTH
1. Piggy Back walking
2. Low Thai striking – instructor has pad on the back of your knees, hit hard as aim it to bend the legs
3. Resistance skills, both natural body weight but also specific equipment – belts are great!
EXERCISE BASED GAMES
1. Friendship press-ups – UK / USA, hand shake or high 5
2. Friendship sit-ups – UK / USA, hand shake or high 5
3. Paddle passing – over and under, round the body
4. Cranes and diggers – leg raises
5. Worlds slowest exercises – press up or sit up
BALL GAMES
1. Chagi ball – rounders but kicking the sponge ball
2. Twimyo ball – dodge ball with martial arts elements
3. Roadrunner – with street safety theme
4. Sponge ball tig/stuck in the mud, ‘Time Bomb’ is a great drill that carries on from this
5. Team under’s and overs – in lines through legs, builds team ethos
GENERAL
1. Numbered techniques, 1-7
2. Animal games – frog, snake, lizard, crocodile, gorilla, horse, crab
3. Partnered animal games – caterpillars, linked crabs
4. Musical stances …
5. Musical pads …
6. Warrior stick fighting +/- shield
7. Drunken Alley, spin then perform techniques
8. Chariots Belts
9. Baton trap
10. Safety Circles – Bully Buster
11. Mini Olympics – multi-activities
Be sure to maintain control, discipline and respect within the group but aim to offer ‘EDU-TAINMENT’ – Educate and entertain
Article taken from our VERVE Instructor Network, feel free to contact us regarding instructor training and development opportunities