How You Can Bond With (And Prepare) Your Child With Martial Arts – Part 3

In part 3 of this series, we are going to give our children a massive confidence boost that is sure to be fun and really gives them the edge they need to protect themselves from perhaps bigger stronger attackers. In this series of games, you will be playing with your child, they will be attempting to hold you down and stay on top of you. These are invaluable skills if they were to be in a real-life self-defense situation. Being able to pin and control someone not only keeps themselves safe but stops the bully from hurting themselves as well.  Something to remember while playing these games is to always encourage your child to aggressively retain the top position, stressing the importance of staying on top and in control. Also, keep safety in mind and make sure you have ample space and that you are moving carefully, while still challenging your child.

Technique #1- Sleeping Crocodile

Bond with your child in this exciting martial arts game. Pretend to be a sleeping crocodile and your child can be the crocodile hunter, all while learning safe and incredibly effective martial arts concepts like:

• Controlling a resisting attacker from the top position
• Moving between pinning positions to stay safe from attacks
• And build their confidence that they can hold down a bigger attacker until help can arrive.

When playing sleeping crocodile from the bottom make sure you

• Start with your eyes closed!
• Bump, twist, and push to challenge your partner to stay on top
• Encourage your partner to move to different positions using their hands and feet to stop your movements!

On top focus on:

• Keeping your body close to theirs, with your hips long and hold on focusing on their arms
• Don’t get rolled over! It’s okay to let go of your grips to stay on top.
• Do whatever you can to stop your partner from using their arms and rolling to their side!

Technique #2- Bulldozer

After you get on top of an attacker or bully, you have to stay on top. This game is designed for you and your child to practice some of the common defenses a pinned person may attempt and how to always stay one step ahead. In the bottom position, you will start by rolling from side to side as the top person uses the technique to “track” you and stay on top, attempting to pin you when you are either flat on your back or on your stomach. As the game progresses the bottom person should up their intensity and begin bucking and rolling randomly to be sure the top player is staying focused and using the technique properly.

 

Technique #3- Crazy Legs

When we take a bully down we like it better when they can’t get back up to hurt us. In the crazy legs game, you and your child work together to practice this vital concept. This activity has your child learning:

• How to engage and control someone who has been put on their back
• Minimize the risk of getting struck by kicks
• Pass around the legs to a safe controlled pin

Have Fun!