Often the most difficult thing to teach children is the notion that when we practice our art we do so in a co-operative manner. We need to work with our partners rather than against them. We are partners not opponents on the dojo floor. The aim is to learn, not to hurt each other, so we can continue to train and learn. One way to reinforce this notion is to introduce partnered and group co-operative games into your class.
Partner Games
On face value these may all seem competitive, however, if you change the focus on how many times you get the tag/touch the knee/keep in the ring, etc, the games move from being purely about winners and losers.
Karate Oz Tag
There are two versions: either everyone has tags placed in their belts (at the back) and has to steal everyone else’s (have lots and the instructor replaces them or the "it" has no tag and has to get one). Everyone loves this game. They love the chasing and grabbing but remember, no holding onto your own tag!.
Touch Knees
Face each other standing. Try to touch your partner's knee before they touch yours.
Kangaroo Push
Put a medium size ball between legs. Push each other with shoulders to dislodge the ball. Make sure arms are behind the back.
Fit Ball/Kick Pad/Balloon Sumo
This has the potential to be dangerous so beware. Place a balloon (if they’re feeling brave)/ exercise ball/kick pad between contestants, either between chests, stomach or on the lower back. Without holding onto the ball they must push their opponent out of the ring. Use a third person as referee. Loser becomes the referee. It is a lot of fun. Boys tend to get one ball each and run toward each other so be careful!
Cooperative Games
Balloon "keep it up"
Use karate techniques to keep balloon from touching the ground. Make teams of two to three students with proper spacing to avoid accidents.
Role Playing Self-defence
Give the kids a scenario and let them figure out the appropriate self-defence response. You may guide them in their responses. (stranger in the park, man walking a dog or claiming to have lost a dog, stranger asking for directions, etc.)
Circle Knee Sit
Form a tight circle and try to sit of each other’s knee. It's almost impossible and a lot of fun.
Obstacle Course
This is a great thing to do when you have a large mixed age or grade class and only one instructor! Get the older/senior grade kids to make up the course. It has to be based around a theme/story which THEY have to explain to the other students
Trust Games
These games are a great way to reinforce the notion that we are all friends in the dojo. We need to trust each other not to hurt each other when we are training. Set the scene before you start these games and you will be surprised how easily the kids will grasp this concept.
Blindfold Obstacle Course
In partners have the sighted student take the blind folded student through very obstacles. Make sure you include tactile variations underfoot. Rearrange obstacles and then swap.
Trust Fall
Be mindful of how you pair the children for this game. Start with the "catcher" just touching the "fallers" back. With every fall, slowly increase the distance between the "catchers" hands and the faller. See how far they can trust the person catching.
Trust Pass or Rocking the Dummy
A trust game for groups of three people. The player in the middle is ‘stiff’ and is pushed gently from partner to partner. As trust increases, the “propellers” move further away – older students only!
Bend with a Friend
Try two or three students back to back. Get them to sit down together – still keeping back to back then try and stand up together!
Stance Feedback
Choose a stance and show how and why balance is important then get half the class to do stance (student) and other half to check stance (teacher). Focus on gentleness of partner work. Learning from each other & physical/visual feedback. Only allow a short time to ‘correct’ partner (until student gets to feel the correct posture) then swap. The "teacher" learns what to look for. The "student" improves their technique. As skill level improve set more difficult task.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Guide to Co-operative Games for Social Change
REFERENCES
Jun Shihan Gil Alstein, Central Florida Seido Juku Karate
Kyoshi Bu Windsor, Aoraki Mount Cook Seido Karate
Australian Sports Commission (1995) Give it a Go:Including People with Disabilities in Sport & Physical ActivityISBN 1-74013-049-9
Bedford, Wilma and Robinson, Jenny (2001) The Great New Book of ‘Life. Be in it’ Games. Rebound Associates Pty Ltd Melboune ISBN 0-646-27013-3
Landy, Joanne & Keith Burridge (2002) Kids with Zip: a practical resource for promoting active children ages 3-12. ISBN 1-74009-739-4
Mitchell, David (1992) TheYoung Martial Artist. The Overlook Press ISBN-10: 0879515821
Pepin Press (2007) Kimono (Agile Rabbit Editions). Pepin Press. ISBN-10: 9789057681004
Alison Todd - Alison's background is many and varied. Her love of soil and plants is probably only eclipsed by her strange fascination with Japanese ...
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