How You Can Bond With (And Prepare) Your Child With Martial Arts – Part 2

As stated in part 1 of this series participating in your child’s activities is the #1 way to bond and connect with your kids! Collaboratively doing things that your children like skyrockets their confidence and deepens their interest in their activities. Remember while you are doing this to maintain your “Ultimate cheerleader” attitude and leave the corrections for the practice room with their coach or instructor.   In part 2 we are going to reprise our role as the bully, this time your child will be focusing on protecting themselves when on their back with the bully standing over us. This is a scary position in self-defense and Brazillian jiu-jitsu is the only martial art that can truly prepare you for it! Remember to gently remind your child to keep their hands up to protect their face at all times, keep their head off the floor and use their legs to maintain the space between themselves and you.

Technique #1- Zombie Guard w/ Logger Sweep

In this incredibly fun and practical game to play at home your child will gain confidence and coordination as well as learn how to:

• Manage distance between themselves and a standing attacker
• Protect themselves from punches and strikes after being put on their back
• Use technique and leverage to knock down and get on top of or away from a bigger, stronger opponent.

While playing Zombie guard make sure you follow some basic guidelines:

• As the standing person make sure you give forward pressure so the bottom person can use their legs to keep their hips up.
• Also while standing use open hands to touch the bottom person’s head for safety. (we are simulating strikes not practicing them!)
• As the bottom player, your hands should be covering your face in a way that you can still see
• While on the bottom you should always be lifting your hips up off the ground and keeping your head off the ground.

 

Technique #2-  Guard Monster

In Guard Monster our children learn what to do when the bully goes down with them and tries to strike from the ground. This game teaches you to use your legs and hips to break down an attacker’s posture, preventing them from striking you, and how to use grips to keep them down until you can get on top or help arrives!   While you’re in the top position make sure you play your best part by

• Maintaining your posture and simulating strikes
• Encourage your child to keep their hands and head up
• Make sure your child’s legs and hips are engaged
• Stay in the “seisa” position sitting on your knees

Technique #3- Crazy Horse

While this technique is from a much better position than your child being stuck on their back it goes in line and transitions well with the other games on this list. Your child keeping safe against some who is potentially much bigger and stronger is a very scary thought. Thankfully with the use of proper position, technique, and leverage it is a hurdle virtually anyone can overcome by TAKING THE BACK!   Crazy Horse is a game your child can play to gain the grip strength and control needed to maintain the “back mount” position the most dominant in all of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.  Somethings to look out for while in the back mount position:

• Keep their hands locked together, if your child’s arms are not long enough, wear a jacket or sweatshirt they can grip tightly!
• Your child must keep their head down with their ear right next to yours, this is for safety, halt play if their head leaves contact!
• Your goal should be to try and escape while the7 knock you over on your side.