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Elements of a Successful Program
Choosing a Martial Arts or Yoga Style
Jump to:
Descriptions and Benefits of Martial Arts and Yoga Styles:
- Aikido and Confluence Aikido Systems
- Capoeira
- Quantum Jujitsu
- Tai Chi
- Warrior Yoga
- Meditation - Mindfulness and the Art of Living
- Martial Arts Fitness Curriculum
- Come and Get It! Nutrition and Physical Fitness for Lifelong Health
Here are some considerations and questions to reflect on when setting up a martial arts or yoga program in your school:
- Traditional or modern? We recommend traditional approaches to instruction because of their focus on philosophical teachings and on how the physical component stresses development of personal improvement and overcoming internal obstacles rather than combat.
- Soft-style or hard style? "Soft-styles" emphasize balance, motor control, fluidity of movement, breath control, posture and technique, and de-emphasize hard strikes (forceful bodily contact, such as punching and kicking,) sparring and competition. Emphasis on practicing forms and defensive techniques, especially those that redirect attacks characterize "soft" style, which can be less physically challenging and suited to AEP students and those with physical limitations. Tai Chi (or Taiji) is the classic example of a "soft" style martial art, although almost any art can be taught soft-style if emphasis is on practicing forms rather than combat applications and sparring.
- What will be appealing to girls as well as boys? There may be styles that appeal more to one gender than the other. Some schools may address this by offering two classes, although this is not usually possible. Another solution is to alternate styles and track participation trends. Then you can settle on a style that is attractive to both boys and girls.
- How long should we offer a particular style? It may work for your school to try several styles, or to stay with one. After starting with Warrior Yoga at the very beginning of the BMS project, one school continued to offer that style for the entire three years of the project as it appeared to hold the students' interest, work for them as a group and work well for the school. By maintaining that same style, many of their students had the opportunity to reach a very deep level of practice.
- Characteristics of the instructor. Style selection is apt to be driven by the characteristics of the instructor more than the style itself. An instructor who knows how to work well with AEP students is likely to be able to make any style successful at a school site. Also, look for instructors who are willing to adapt their martial arts or yoga discipline so that will be a good fit for your site population. (See Skills and Qualities of an Effective Instructor.)
The following are brief descriptions of the styles that were taught in the BMS program. These descriptions can help you decide what style of martial art or yoga is best suited for your school. Instructors in the BMS project aligned their courses with the Hawaii PE Standards (the California PE standards had not yet been adopted when the funding proposal was written.) Note that the Hawaii standards are similar to the California standards, and they are both similar to the national PE standards. (See also Linking Courses to PE Standards.)
Descriptions and Benefits of Martial Arts and Yoga Styles
Aikido and Confluence Aikido Systems
Origin
Originated in Japan. O Sensei, the founder of Aikido, sought
to create a martial art that used the least amount of force and did the
least harm to an opponent, thus promoting harmony and peace. Confluence
Aikido Systems is a service-oriented organization developed in 1994 by
Sensei Jennifer Paige Smith and rooted in the practice and philosophy
of Aikido.
Description
Aikido focuses on using one's own balance and energy
to gain control of and deflect the attacks of or throw an opponent, rather
than punching or kicking. It emphasizes the dynamics of movement, and
includes extensive partner work, i.e., physical
contact. Attacks are redirected into open and dynamic throws, and students
learn to roll gracefully, so practice is fun and safe.
Benefits for AEP
Students
Aikido practice is non-competitive and includes self-defense
techniques as well as spiritual teachings. Classes promote sound physical
structure, positive discipline, practical self-defense and a full body,
mind and spirit workout. As a method of mental development, sitting,
walking, and moving meditations are a part of every class. Aikido practice
teaches students to create a life of balance and peace.
(See Aikido Course Plan, Linking Courses to PE Standards and Aikido website.)
Origin
Afro-Brazilian art form, created by African slaves in Brazil during the Portuguese
colonization. Because of the fear of slave uprisings, Africans were
not allowed to practice anything resembling warfare or martial arts. Therefore,
they created Capoeira, a martial art disguised as a dance.
Description
Capoeira combines physical (aerobatics, martial art/sparring, and dance),
musical (drumming and singing) and philosophical elements. In a typical
Capoeira class students learn the fundamentals of all these aspects of the
style.
Benefits for AEP Students
This martial art is attractive to AEP students as it combines movement, rhythm
and music. Philosophy plays a large part in capoeira and the best teachers
strive to teach Respeito (Respect), Responsabilidade (Responsibility), Segurança
(Safety/Security), Malicia (Cleverness/Street-smarts), and Liberdade (Liberty/Freedom).
(See Capoeira Course Plan and Linking Courses to PE Standards
Origin
Developed by Sensei Jeremy Corbell from other schools of Jujitsu — "the
gentle art" — a Japanese martial art whose central ethos is
to yield to the force provided by an opponent's attack in order to apply
counter techniques.
Description
Quantum Jujitsu is an integrative approach to martial arts and life defense
which combines multiple forms of combat and conflict resolution. Emphasizing
grappling arts both on the ground and in takedowns/throws, Quantum Jujitsu
offers an approach to martial arts for BMS students that includes, but
did not emphasize, striking. Principles and concepts of body movement are
used to teach effortless power.
Benefits for AEP Students
Quantum Jujitsu suggests that the most difficult battles we fight are internal,
and that true conflict resolution starts with examining and understanding one's
self. It teaches that a great martial artist must be more than just a good
technician; the martial artist must also work towards developing mastery of
one's mind and actions. Quantum Jujitsu brings students into contact
with their true source of strength and courage.
(See Quantum Jujitsu website.)
Tai Chi (also written as Tai ji)
Origin
Originated in China. Tai chi theory and practice evolved in agreement with
many of the principles of Chinese
philosophy and Taoism in
particular.
Description
Tai Chi is a form-based style of movement used to strengthen students both
physically and mentally. Tai Chi, as it is practiced in the west
today, can be described as a combination of yoga and meditation.
Involved are a number of 'sets' which consist of a sequence of
movements originally derived from the martial arts, although in Tai
Chi they are performed slowly, softly and gracefully with smooth
and even transitions.
Benefits for AEP Students
Tai Chi teaches that everything is interrelated, interconnected and interdependent,
and it stresses non-violent principles, understanding and compassion
toward oneself and others. Learning to do the exercises correctly leads
to better posture, alignment and movement, combining to ease tension
and injury. The meditative nature of the exercises is calming and relaxing.
(See Tai Chi Course Plan and Linking Courses to PE Standards.)
Origin
Developed by Sensei Jeremy Corbell. This movement meditation is a complete
healing arts discipline rooted in the philosophy of the Martial Way.
Description
Warrior Yoga is a challenging, powerful and dynamic form of Yoga in which
students move through rhythmically linked postures (Series A, B and C),
hold stretches, practice breathing exercises, and engage in seated and movement
meditations to increase balance, strength and flexibility. Warrior Yoga
was developed as a mental and physical conditioning training tool meant
to be used in tandem with martial arts training.
Benefits for AEP Students
A series of stories, oral traditions, and personal practices in the yoga system
stress the importance of turning obstacles into opportunities, problems into
solutions, challenge into growth, and conflict into harmony.
(See Warrior Yoga Course Plan and Linking Courses to PE Standards.)
Meditation - Mindfulness and the Art of Living
Origin
Teaches Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
Description
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) focuses on developing
a person's capacity for attention and awareness and is a powerful tool
to decrease stress, enhance academic performance, and promote emotional
and social well-being.
Benefits for AEP Students
MBSR creates the optimal underlying conditions for all learning and teaching.
Mindfulness is gaining increased recognition as an essential support for
students, teachers, school administrators, and parents.
(See the Mind Body Awareness Project website.)
Martial Arts Fitness Curriculum
Origin
This course was developed specifically for the Physical Education for
Body, Mind and Spirit project by Sensei Lori Mullen, a martial arts
instructor with her black belt in Chinese Gung-fu.
Description
The class activities include team-building, warm-ups/stretching, nutrition
and health information, physical exercise, martial arts kicks, blocks
and stances, self-defense techniques and strategies, new vocabulary, cool
down and salute.
Benefits for AEP Students
This course was designed with a variety of components to address all aspects
of health and well-being. Team-building activities provide opportunities
to develop the group identity and foster relationships between students.
(See Black Tiger Academy website.)
The BMS project also developed a classroom-based module to support fitness and nutrition behavior change. The goal was to provide students with experiences and information for promoting practices that would contribute to lifelong health. (Note: This curriculum was not evaluated as part of the program.)
Come and Get It! Nutrition and Physical Fitness for Lifelong Health
Origin
This course was developed specifically for the Physical Education for
Body, Mind and Spirit project as a classroom-based module of 20
lessons.
Description
Students learn basic nutrition information and how it applies to food labels,
the food pyramid, calorie intake and setting goals. Students learn the
components of physical activity by participating in different exercise
and design an individualized exercise prescription. While there is an
experiential component, the course was designed to focus on the information
and planning students need in order to make informed choices and
behavior changes around their food and physical activity.
Benefits for AEP Students
Come and Get It! teaches nutrition and physical activity principles to students
along with the skills to utilize the information beyond the walls of
the classroom. Students are taught skills to identify positive and negative
influences and how those influences play into their decision making about
their overall health. Students also experience a variety of meditation
techniques and exercises such as deep breathing, reflective writing and
guided imagery/ visualization.
(See Come and Get It! curriculum for lesson plans that you can use in your school.)
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