Coaching

Research based articles to help martial arts instructors coaching children in martial arts classes.

Coach correcting child using praise correct praise method

Effective in action feedback: Replacing the tired praise correct praise model (PCP)

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Praise correct praise is a method martial arts coaches often use to correct mistakes during their classes. This tactic is also used in businesses, though the terminology is not quite as child friendly (poo sandwich). The praise correct praise technique usually involves praising the child for something they are doing well, correcting their practice and …

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Queue busters

Queue busters: reduce downtime and maintain engagement in your kids martial arts classes

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What the hell are queue busters? Let me explain………. When I first started martial arts back in 1990 at 16 (yep, I’m getting on a bit), we all performed quite a chunk of our training in ‘class lines’. You will recognise the familiar-looking matrix with the higher grades at the front and the lowest at …

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Rotating curriculum

Do you know the difference between a linear, rotating and nested rotating curriculum?

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You may have heard the term rotating curriculum thrown around in martial arts circles before but what about a nested rotating curriculum? For years I have been using the traditional linear curriculum delivery model to teach our members but a few years ago I came across something called a rotating curriculum. This made me reflect on …

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Photo of games for martial arts classes

Are games for martial arts classes a good idea?

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I know this article is looking at the question ‘Are games for martial arts classes a good idea?’ but you should know that I was going to name it ‘Here come the fun police: why are so many children’s martial arts instructors against games?’ Before we get started, I just want to reiterate a statement …

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Young martial arts children showing ready stance while kneeling

25 tips to build engagement and fun in your kids martial arts classes

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Every now and again I get a request from a martial arts instructor asking how to build engagement and fun in the classes they deliver as part of their kid’s martial arts programme. This one thing is obviously top of the list when it comes to increasing enjoyment and retention. I thought it would be …

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Anxious Child

3 reasons anxious children may not join in your martial arts classes

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Have you ever had an anxious child attend your class and refuse to join in? You book a new starter in for a trial class on your young children’s martial arts programme. You email / text / message to remind the parent about the trial class and they tell you the child has been talking …

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Do as i say, not as i do. Over weight man in karate uniform with black belt

Do as I say, not as I do: How a lack of congruency in your coaching can cost you members

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Building congruency in your coaching is all about building alignment between the values you promote and the actions you take. We are all human and as such, at least some of our values will be aspirational. By this, I mean that most martial arts coaches will at least make a solid attempt to ‘walk their …

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Young girl in karate uniform performing splits and smiling

Building members for life: Leveraging Self Determination Theory in your martial arts club

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Ryan and Deci’s Self Determination Theory has been the subject of study in sports contexts for decades. Centred around building intrinsic motivation, it’s surprising that it hasn’t been the focus of attention for martial arts clubs and organisations looking to grow their memberships. If we can understand the motivation of our members and create a …

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Martial arts class of different ages and grades

Coaching Philosophy: What is It and How to Develop Your Own

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Your coaching philosophy isn’t just a set of aspirational statements that you would like to adhere to, but guiding principles that you do your best to implement in every martial arts class you teach. Defining and documenting your own coaching philosophy will give you clarity when dealing with different situations that may arise over the …

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Marshmallow test of self-control

7 tactics to help children develop self-control

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The benefits of developing self-control Who would have thought that having the self-control to not eat one marshmallow in order to receive a second could have such a profound effect on someone’s life? The results of the marshmallow test turned out to predict much about the participant’s future lives. The more seconds they were able …

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