My children are masters of mayhem. They are the Bedlam brigade. They can cause mischief in the unlikeliest of scenarios, and yesterday during their self defense after school program was not an unlikely situation. It was a very likely situation and in the drive over their Windsor was complaining about having to sit away from mommy.
Then we arrived fifteen minutes early and the kids got time to play on the playground. You might think this got their wiggles out, but normally it winds them up, and standing in a large room listening to a guy drone on about blocks and kicks and what not isn’t all that exciting.
I also have to say that the sensi isn’t a seasoned teacher of small children. He has some issues and doesn’t keep the class fun and engaging. That is why it was extremely surprising when Windsor paid complete attention and didn’t move from his spot for the entire class. It was not what I was expecting.
Windsor looked not only to be engaged with the class but to be learning. Being right near us might have helped. We got a spot on the floor so that we were right next to him and a few times he looked at us to make sure he was doing what he was supposed to.
I don’t know if the sensi’s story of getting jumped by eight guys and counting shoes was helpful for children. I’m not sure if any of these kids have ever been in or even thought about a fight. As the move Fight Club points out most people don’t experience fights in their daily life and are confused as to what is happening when one occurs.
I do think being able to defend yourself is important but there needs to be an understanding that it isn’t a scenario that is going to pop up often. There is an important contradiction in martial arts that the point of learning the moves is so you don’t have to use them. It is the opposite of most sports.
Again this sensi appears to be there as some form of punishment. He isn’t engaged or enthusiastic and that comes across to the kids. At one point he lost an entire half of the room, and I was very surprised that only one of mine, the youngest, was one of them. The two boys stood stock still and waited patiently for the next instruction. Now if they would do that in their classrooms at school we’d be making progress.
David Huzzard Writes 