Self Defence Classes for Children!

Discussion in 'General Martial Arts Discussion' started by GaryWado, Sep 27, 2013.

  1. GaryWado

    GaryWado Tired

    Hello,

    I’ve been running a kids Karate class at our dojo for about 15 years now and in that time I have been asked all sorts of questions by both kids and parents alike.

    Last Thursday however I was asked a question by the parent of one of our new youngsters (that started only a few weeks ago) and it’s kinda floored me!

    The child in question has ADHD and Autism (nothing too severe on the spectrum as far as I can see) and he has done ok over the last few weeks, but this Thursday, his mother approached me to ask whether I taught children’s self defence classes!

    More specifically she asked whether I knew of any SD classes for children with learning difficulties!?

    She explained that she headed up a group for parents with children with said special needs and that she would be keen to hear of anyone in the area that could teach basic protection skills to their children - as they often find themselves being bullied in the playground because they are “different”!

    I can understand her anxiety however I’m also a realist when it come to SD – or at least from an adult perspective.

    Is there a perspective to be had for kids in the playground with or without autism!?

    I found the question weirdly un-nerving.

    Any thoughts?
     
  2. TheDog

    TheDog Banned Banned

    Yeah, I have a form of autism. I'd guess it would be a good idea to include some teaching in the class as to the acceptable limits of violence- when and where it is acceptable, or indeed advisable, to use violence. That's one of the key features of autism- a lack of awareness of social conventions and boundaries.
     
  3. Dean Winchester

    Dean Winchester Valued Member

    ASD isn't one thing, as you say it's a spectrum. A lot of it will come down to the child's ability to manage their own behaviour, understand what they are feeling and what others are showing.

    Bit of a mine field to be honest mate.
     
  4. Dean Winchester

    Dean Winchester Valued Member

    First port of call should be the school and SENCO, after that the LEA.

    All the SD training in the world won't be any good if there are underlying problems and attitudes within the school.
     
  5. TheDog

    TheDog Banned Banned

    While we're at it, while strictly speaking it's none of my business, I'd like to sound a note of caution about self defence classes specifically for children. I remember very vividly as a young child that my dearest wish in the whole world was to put one of my tormentors in hospital. Any martial arts instructor who teaches techniques that could result in such a course of action might find himself on the wrong end of a lawsuit.
     
  6. GaryWado

    GaryWado Tired

    The missus is a senior teacher in special needs school that specialises in autism, so I'm no stranger to the spectrum as it were - and at the Walton club we have (past and present) taught kids on various parts of the spectrum.

    What troubles me though Dean is the fact that the parent(s) could think there was a quick fix to this.

    I tried to explain to her that - the adult word self protection was more about the understanding of violence, the avoidance and de-escalation etc etc.

    All the type of things the kids on the autistic spectrum would struggle with - and she knows this!

    So, what she was basically asking me to do was to teach her kid how to fight other kids in the playground which - I ain’t about to do...
     
    Last edited: Sep 27, 2013
  7. GaryWado

    GaryWado Tired

    Exactly!
     
  8. Pretty In Pink

    Pretty In Pink Moved on MAP 2017 Gold Award

    Gracie Bully Program IMO.
     
  9. Simon

    Simon Administrator Admin Supporter MAP 2017 Koyo Award

    Any links, Chadderz?
     
  10. Dean Winchester

    Dean Winchester Valued Member

    Unfortunately there are many parents out there like that, they won't face and more importantly accept their children for the wonderful mini people they are.

    Beyond basic stranger danger type stuff IMO it'd be much better them spending time on behavioural management, confidence and social skills.

    MA training will undoubtedly help that but it's much better it's done as the art rather than SD.
     
  11. TheDog

    TheDog Banned Banned

    It's difficult though, because on one level children are the people most in need of education on self defence. IMO it should be part of the national curriculum. But maybe the class should be more along the lines of 'how to anticipate/avoid danger' than 'how to hammer ten shades of excrement out of somebody'.

    Now you're friggin' talking
     
  12. Pretty In Pink

    Pretty In Pink Moved on MAP 2017 Gold Award

    [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8isR_Y-kfk"]Gracie Bullyproof: Austin's 1-Week Transformation - YouTube[/ame]

    [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8Lxcc_ChE8"]Gracie BULLYPROOF - "Verbal Jiu-Jitsu" - YouTube[/ame]
     
  13. GaryWado

    GaryWado Tired

    They are great vids Chadderz, but the kid(s) in question are 10 year olds on the autistic spectrum.

    They basically don't pick up the signals / prompts the rest of us do.

    Gary
     
  14. John Titchen

    John Titchen Still Learning Supporter

    I think given the age group and the autistic factor you can do physical games to increase confidence and train things such as breaking out from headlocks, but overall you won't be able to cover the big topics in a way that will engage attention at that age.
     
  15. GaryWado

    GaryWado Tired

    That's interesting John.

    I know a couple of "Mapa" techniques to get out of head locks (without causing hurt to the attacker) but in the most part, put an autistic kid (who already has high levels of anxiety) into a head lock, and their levels of anxiety is probably going to go "stella" - and as a result - he would be very unlikely to get out of the situation without losing it!
     
  16. John Titchen

    John Titchen Still Learning Supporter

    Hence introducing it in stages in a stable controlled environment as a fun game.
     
  17. Dean Winchester

    Dean Winchester Valued Member

    There's the hypersensitivity issues to consider during practice, some can't stand contact or they process pain differently.

    I think all in all it'd be rather tricky to do it on a class basis, unless it was a very small class with enough support beyond just the person teaching.
     
  18. GaryWado

    GaryWado Tired

    Agreed John but two things...

    An environ that works for one ASD kid maybe won't work for another and as you well know - when it comes to it - SP isn't about controlled environments.

    I think Deans more on the money about the schools SENCO route.

    Ill probably suggest this to the parent next week.
     
  19. Dean Winchester

    Dean Winchester Valued Member

    You might find it would take that long that it would almost be impractical.
     
  20. Dean Winchester

    Dean Winchester Valued Member

    Autism is like the force in my family. :D
     

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