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Introducing the Internationally
Acclaimed Early SKILLZ Program!
Three to four year olds love physical
activity and anything involving play.
They have a rich imagination and strong
desire to be less dependent on their
usual caregivers. The problem we discovered
is that many children this age have
a hard time with structure in a group
environment like what is commonly
found in most Martial Arts schools.
The solution we found is to provide them
with their own program that targets
their stage of development in a manner
that keeps them entertained while at the
same time building skills that set them up for success.
With that said, a structured program introducing early skill-based
training in Martial Arts has proven to be very successful.
By understanding the stages of development of 3 & 4 year
olds, we were able to select 8 age-appropriate skills that
make up the Early SKILLZ Program:
(1) KICKING (2) PUNCHING
(3) BLOCKING (4) CRAWLING
(5) HOPPING (6) ROLLING
(7) RUNNING (8) CATCHING
We cover one of the above skills per class (in order). During
each class we run a warm-up; deliver a mat chat about
the skill; run two or three skill-building drills; and then we
have them demonstrate the skill to earn their skill-stripe.
They must earn all 8 skill-stripes in order to graduate to
the next belt level. Once they earn their next belt they will
continue to run through all 8 skills earning their skill-stripes
with more challenging curriculum as they advance to each
rank. They graduate to the Basic SKILLZ program after they
have successfully completed all 9 belt ranks of the Early
SKILLZ program
Here is an example of what a white belt must demonstrate
for each of the 8 skills above in order to earn their next belt:
1. KICKING: Front kicking in the air, alternating legs. They
must be able to execute ten kicks in a row alternating
legs in order to pass.
2. PUNCHING: Straight punching in the air, alternating arms.
They must be able to execute ten punches in a row alternating
arms in order to pass.
3. BLOCKING: High blocking in the air, alternating arms.
They must be able to execute ten high blocks in a row
alternating arms in order to pass.
4. CRAWLING: Bear crawling across the mat. They must be
able to bear crawl up and down the floor without their
knees or elbows touching the mat in order to pass.
5. HOPPING: Hopping down the floor with both feet. They
must be able to hop down the mat with both feet together,
and without falling, five times in a row in order to pass.
6. ROLLING: Rolling a ball down the floor. They must be
able to roll a ball down the floor while alternating hands,
and keeping at least one hand on the ball at all times, in
order to pass.
7. RUNNING: Running down the floor. They must be able to
run down the floor as fast as possible without falling in
order to pass.
8. CATCHING: Catching a ball thrown underhand from one
step away. They must be able to catch a ball five times in
a row in order to pass.
As you can see we take Martial Arts
training to a whole new level!
We use early elements of traditional Martial
Arts curriculums to build skills that are
appropriate for 3 and 4 year olds.
Thismeans that your child will learn and
grow at a pace that is not too easy,
nor too challenging.
The best part is the Early SKILLZ program will equip
your child with skills that they will
utilize in every area of their life!
