Good way to begin a martial arts class?

I am starting my own martial arts class soon, and I have experience in teaching martial arts classes, but always for another person%26#039;s studio. I wanted to get some martial artist%26#039;s/instructor%26#039;s ideas on different methods to begin a class with so I can have some outside opinions. (things like a greeting, what kind of warmup exercises, etc.)|||Well, I always feel that it is a good idea to enforce some form of discipline in Martial Arts schools. It preserves the integrity and sincerity of the art. Bowing, etc. Also, being friendly and always letting your students know that you are there to teach them, and if they have any questions or concerns throughout their lessons feel free to ask. It%26#039;s very important that the students respect their instructor without being intimidated. A HUGE thing that I think all Martial Arts classes should enforce is respect among the students. Very often, especially among younger students, there is a level of ********* and ego that floats around and it tends to discourage newer students from sticking with the art. Students of all levels, new and old, must leave their ego at the door. Respect is a crucial attribute in the world of martial arts.





As far as warm-ups go, I think that basic calisthenics (push-ups, jumping jacks, butt-kickers, high-knees, supermans, wall-sits, weightless squats both single and double leg etc. etc.) should be performed for 5-10 minutes to get the core temperature of the body to rise. Some dynamic stretching should be incorporated as well to minimize injury and inrease flexibility, as well as some static stretching at the end of the class. Very basic, bodyweight style exercises and stretches.





Remember, create a warm, welcoming, but respectful atmosphere among yourself and your students to make things flow a lot better. Anymore questions feel free to IM me on AOL Instant Messenger at MACH2000.|||Ye what he said|||Have a change of pace always.


Boring is what alot of kids get out of some studios.


The key is to become a student yourself, and understand how the curriculum should be set to fit their needs not yours.


Even the most uninterested students can become the best you have by becoming a part of the curriculum not a part of the class.


Make it personal and lasting, and always have a quality of character you want of your students. Nothing worse than do as I say not as I do.


Last have a BIG HEART as you represent your students more than yourself. That puts alot of eyes on you, and impressions last forever. What you give is what you get.|||Ok, instead of telling you what to do as exercises and what not, as I%26#039;m sure that you already know this stuff, I%26#039;ll tell you the way a class should be run from a scientific group exercise approach.





The class should begin with a light warm up 3 - 5 mins, circle all the major joints, followed by some light stretches to all the major muscles. Then I would get straight into class, start with technique and slower things and build up towards the end finishing with things like sparring. Then if you want to do a conditioning element it should be done at the end, followed by a cool down of 5-10mins and stretches of all the major muscles used.





No one ever does it this way but it%26#039;s supposed to go. I%26#039;ve never been to a class with a cool down and they always put conditioning at the start too.





Good luck with your new school.|||We %26quot;Bow In%26quot; with a %26quot;Courtesy Speech%26quot;, facing the Korean Flag and American Flag to start out. 10 laps, 10 push-ups, and 10 situps, followed by hand/foot drills, and Korean and American splits top off the warm up part. We then work on our %26quot;current forms and one-steps%26quot; a few times. Toward the end of class, we practice kicks, and review our previous forms and one-steps. At the end of class, we %26quot;Bow Out%26quot; with a second speech, bow to the high-ranking student, and dismiss.