Martial arts is our passion and we believe that it is truly a great vessel to help children learn valuable life skills. Low confidence and the issues that arise from it are a top concern for so many children in today's schools.
We are constantly hearing about bullying, social issues, peer pressures - and although overcoming these challenges is a great undertaking, we know that the solution always starts from within. It starts with self worth, empowerment, and respect, all of which are intrinsically taught through martial arts.
Every journey starts with a single step. If we can spark a little light inside each child and empower them to know that they have a voice, and that that voice matters, then we can make a difference. We teach them small actionable ways to act with more confidence and introduce basic self defense techniques to help them feel the empowerment of trying something new and mastering a new skill.
Workshops can be offered in French and English.
A typical day of school workshops is outlined below. Depending on the total number of students in the school, we may be able to see all students in one day. In cases where there are too many students for one day, we recommend focusing on groups aged 7-11. We may also consider booking workshops over a period of 2 days.
- 5 to 7 sessions of 25 minutes, in the gymnasium
- 25 to 35 students in each session
Each session includes:
- Short introduction and safety guidelines
- Ice breaker warm-up and games
- Introduction to basic blocks and striking
- Break into lines to practice the techniques on pads with an instructor or teacher
- Student demonstrations (building the courage to step up in front of group, accept that it is okay to try and fail, overcome fear of failure, and feel empowerment)
- Session wrap-up and re-cap of safety guidelines
- Confidence, communication and bully prevention tips are intertwined within the activities
Practicing martial arts has so many benefits for children, and albeit this school program being only a small introduction, it can lead a child in need to want to pursue an activity that will serve them in the classroom, at home, and even into adulthood.
- Improved behavior
- Increased focus and attention span
- Practical self defense skills
- Gross motor skills
- Leadership skills
- Ability to set goals and achieve them
- Respect
- Perseverance
- Social skills; make friends and feel accepted
- Increased confidence
