Our age-specific kids’ classes are high-energy and upbeat, combining conditioning and aerobic exercise with games and creative activities in a fun, non-competitive setting. Our kids’ classes promote self-confidence, focus and physical fitness for students ages four through twelve. The four and five year old students attend class once a week, while kids six and up attend twice weekly.
4-5 year olds:
To bring Kung Fu alive for our youngest students, each thirty minute class for four and five year olds is structured around an adventure story. Each week’s adventure (featuring pirates, dragons, wizards and a whole host of bad guys!) provides our youngest students the opportunity to learn and practice the techniques of Kung Fu in a fun and engaging atmosphere that keeps interest and enthusiasm high. Kids spend time moving around the training hall and enjoying Kung Fu skill-building games, and are also introduced to working in a line while copying the teacher and other more formal training techniques to prepare them for future classes. There are no ranks or testing at this level, but the skills developed will give students the needed foundation for the road ahead.
To bring Kung Fu alive for our youngest students, each thirty minute class for four and five year olds is structured around an adventure story. Each week’s adventure (featuring pirates, dragons, wizards and a whole host of bad guys!) provides our youngest students the opportunity to learn and practice the techniques of Kung Fu in a fun and engaging atmosphere that keeps interest and enthusiasm high. Kids spend time moving around the training hall and enjoying Kung Fu skill-building games, and are also introduced to working in a line while copying the teacher and other more formal training techniques to prepare them for future classes. There are no ranks or testing at this level, but the skills developed will give students the needed foundation for the road ahead.
6-8 year olds:
Six, seven, and eight are transitional years for children as they move from guided or play-based learning to more independent and disciplined learning. The 6-8 year old program maintains the spirit of fun and humor found in the preschool program, while providing higher levels of challenge and complexity to hold the interest of these intellectually maturing students. Classes begin with a review of Kung Fu basics and a fun, high-energy warm up, and then move on to specific skill-building exercises for the remainder of the class. Line work (standing in rows, copying the teacher) is alternated with more dynamic activities that get kids moving around the room or practicing their techniques against kick shields and our “towers of power”. Students also begin learning traditional Chinese Kung Fu forms at this level. Forms are routines comprised of Kung Fu movements and are the backbone of our martial arts system. Proficiency in these forms is one of the ways students advance through our ranking system, which involves testing for colored sashes worn with their uniforms. More advanced activities like sparring and work with weapons are reserved for higher ranked students. While kids at this age tend to be more interested in higher levels of challenge and seriousness, they’re also still kids! We take great care to strike the balance between structure, discipline and playfulness in these classes.
9-12 year olds:
In the 9-12 year old class, Kung Fu students are prepared for the teen/adult program by following a class structure similar to that of their older Kung Fu companions. A high-energy warm up is followed by work on basic training, skill building and forms. Students advancing to this class from the younger classes will continue to improve their skills while learning increasingly more sophisticated material. Those joining us at this age for the first time will begin their study of traditional Chinese Kung Fu forms. Forms are routines comprised of Kung Fu movements and are the backbone of our martial arts system. Proficiency in these forms is one of the ways students advance through our ranking system, which involves testing for colored sashes worn with their uniforms. More advanced activities like sparring and work with weapons are reserved for higher ranked students. Because of their higher maturity level, 9-12 year olds are introduced to longer and more complicated sequences of movements not available to kids in the younger classes. Each of these classes ends with an intense and exhausting burst of exercise – (or, as they see it, a game!).
Six, seven, and eight are transitional years for children as they move from guided or play-based learning to more independent and disciplined learning. The 6-8 year old program maintains the spirit of fun and humor found in the preschool program, while providing higher levels of challenge and complexity to hold the interest of these intellectually maturing students. Classes begin with a review of Kung Fu basics and a fun, high-energy warm up, and then move on to specific skill-building exercises for the remainder of the class. Line work (standing in rows, copying the teacher) is alternated with more dynamic activities that get kids moving around the room or practicing their techniques against kick shields and our “towers of power”. Students also begin learning traditional Chinese Kung Fu forms at this level. Forms are routines comprised of Kung Fu movements and are the backbone of our martial arts system. Proficiency in these forms is one of the ways students advance through our ranking system, which involves testing for colored sashes worn with their uniforms. More advanced activities like sparring and work with weapons are reserved for higher ranked students. While kids at this age tend to be more interested in higher levels of challenge and seriousness, they’re also still kids! We take great care to strike the balance between structure, discipline and playfulness in these classes.
9-12 year olds:
In the 9-12 year old class, Kung Fu students are prepared for the teen/adult program by following a class structure similar to that of their older Kung Fu companions. A high-energy warm up is followed by work on basic training, skill building and forms. Students advancing to this class from the younger classes will continue to improve their skills while learning increasingly more sophisticated material. Those joining us at this age for the first time will begin their study of traditional Chinese Kung Fu forms. Forms are routines comprised of Kung Fu movements and are the backbone of our martial arts system. Proficiency in these forms is one of the ways students advance through our ranking system, which involves testing for colored sashes worn with their uniforms. More advanced activities like sparring and work with weapons are reserved for higher ranked students. Because of their higher maturity level, 9-12 year olds are introduced to longer and more complicated sequences of movements not available to kids in the younger classes. Each of these classes ends with an intense and exhausting burst of exercise – (or, as they see it, a game!).