Teaching to Children

Yes, I do this almost everyday. I find it amazing that children are so open to listening - especially if it is interesting. When I sneak my points into stories, I can usually grab anyone's attention, even the rowdiest of kiddos.

I remember teaching an after-school program for a local elementary school a couple years ago. Not only did I have 1 rowdy kid, I had 20 of them. It was the most kids I have ever had in any program that I've done. I definitely bit off more than I could chew.

I made them all sit down, come close, as I told them my favorite martial arts fable. The chaos flew away out of the room, and all that was left was complete and utter attention. All 20 of these kids were hanging on my every word.

I'm not a magician, but the hardest thing about being a martial arts instructor is teaching kids how to kick and punch, then telling them they cannot kick or punch anything when they leave the studio. You have to make them understand that they have the control to change their attitude, their hearts, and their minds.

Really the key to teaching kids is to help them learn something, then guide them into applying it in their personal lives. Nope, stop! Don't think it's easy. This is something that takes time. It also takes multiple people. I find that if I am saying the same things the parents are telling them, they will listen. Change is not overnight. They may have the control to change, but the discipline to change comes with consistency and practice.

Whoever is reading this, remember that as an adult, you have a responsibility to inspire the next generation. Whether you are a parent, teacher, instructor, construction worker, anything, they are watching us constantly. They are watching the kids on the television on how they act. They are watching the policeman at the mall walking around. All their eyes are on you, and if we want a better future in this world, we need to show the character that we so want from our future leaders.

So, how can we teach kicking and punching, then have completely disciplined children walk out of class? Enforce the understanding that they have the power. Kids sometimes feel like they are powerless to change anything. The food they eat, the time they go to bed, when to be quiet, when to have fun. This kind of structure is so needed for children, but it doesn't mean their feelings are not real. Empower them to make good decisions.

The fable I mentioned earlier, probably my best stories, talks about our motto for karate: Escape, Control, Destroy. The three levels of self-defense passed down from our Grandmaster. It discusses a martial arts master and his three sons(or daughters; I change it up sometimes) that all are on their way to completing their martial arts journeys. The first son is good at destroying, strongest of them all, but is not yet complete. The second son is good at controlling the situation, but always still gets involved. The third son always avoids harmful situations by being aware. I teach the kids that it is always better to run away from a situation instead of running in the way and having to hurt someone. I want to empower them to decide when to escape, when to do a non-violent control, but also to know when they need to destroy someone to just get away.

This empowerment gives them the permission to have courage to make a decision. This is what we need to help them through. So, my dear adult teachers, remember that there is power in what we do, say, and how we carry ourselves. If you want to have a better future, you need to be better teachers.

I am always working on how I carry myself, because I know all eyes are on me. I want to have amazing future leaders around me, so I'm going to be wise in my words, wise in my walk, and wise in my leadership.

"Without truth...without an absolute, nonnegotiable standard...there's no real liberty." -Priscilla Shirer

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against spiritual forces of evil." -The Bible, Ephesians 6:12