How do you teach teens how to fight?

Question

Me and my friend are going to be teaching a mixed martial arts club at our high school. the only problem is that teens tend to be immature and never feel like listening to you. i dont want people to be laughing at me when im up there teaching them or slacking off and i dont want to disipline them with brutal punishment.

Answer 1

Probably the best way, is to intersperse your traditional teaching with stuff that they are interested in, such as TV, cartoons, movies, current events, and historical figures.

One good example is with Cartoons and movies. Right now there are quite a few TV cartoons and movies that have various types of martial arts in them. Most of the teens will watch some of them if they are interested in martial arts.

Some cartoons, like Xiaolin Showdown, have good representations of martial arts, while others like Dragon Ball Z are very unrealistic.

(the artists who write and draw Xiaolin Showdown practice martial arts, and use each other as models when drawing the characters performing moves, to ensure that they follow true forms.)

You can take clips, pictures, or outtakes from these shows or movies; and go over their similarity to fighting techniques, or how realistic or unrealistic they are. Spend some time analyzing the stances, forms and actions in the popular media, talk about various factors that they involve, and have some interactive discussion about it. This will get the teens attention, and get them pumped to do some real martial arts.

Many of these shows and movies have background plot facets about the characters that you can use to show the importance of training; developing style and technique, using meditation or other techniques, or cultural references that can help you make the not-so-interesting parts of martial arts training more appealing as well.

Answer 2

The first night out:  toss out the ones who are there to s***w off and cause problems.  This leaves you with just the students who want to learn.

I would suggest that you have some kind of tolerance policy that students and parents have to sign.  The policy will reinforce that they are there to learn and not mess around.  If they do mess around, then they are shown the door.  The parent can't gripe because they signed it.  No parent signature, no admission to class.

Answer 3

Mixed martial arts club- I don't see a problem- history, math, home economics yeah! fight club nay! everyone will be attentive.

Answer 4

Get past the part of teens being immature.  If they want to learn, they will learn.  Start with the basics and that usually means discipline.  The first one that acts up, show them the door.  The rest will get the hint and pay attention if they are serious to learn in the first place.

Answer 5

Take Kickboxing classes.

Answer 6

start by creating a routine - that they always do upon start of class. This could be warmups - anything you decide. but it is a solid signal that class has begun. Their conversations should stop to do this activity.

once they have a routine - youll have less difficulty getting their attention and switching activities.

Answer 7

I agree with others.  Have parents and students sign a contract saying that they understand martial arts is about discipline and control and that there will not be any horsing around in class, at any point.  Also, make sure that the letter emphasizes that you are not teaching students to fight, and list the main principles of some of the martial arts you'll be teaching.  (ex: What is the purpose of judo?)  

You could have students starting with warm-ups if you know exactly what you want them doing.  If you're worried about them messing around too much by practicing moves, tell them that you expect them seated in a circle (or however you want them seated to observe).  Have a clear signal that brings everyone together and let's them know that it's time to listen and pay attention.  Generally, your students should be paying attention anyway if it's for a fun club.  You don't want to be too buddy with them, but you don't want to be on their cases every second.  If you have a kid who seems like they're not paying attention, but not causing a disruption, call them up to demonstrate the move.  

Good luck!