Should a martial arts school consider providing parallel training in other life skills?

Bah how does that prepare them for life!

Teach them how to survive in a cubical for 8 hours a day doing a job they hate and getting paid peanuts, while dealing with management who doesn't know their head from a hole in the ground...then coming home to a nagging wife, and kids who demand constant attention. Coupled with having to do Yard Work on the weekend!

Then see how far they can stretch an100 bucks on groceries to 3 weeks...

NOW THAT IS LIFE SKILLS!

LOL...

Naw seriously, I think what you stated is a good character building thing, plus it is fun. I would be wary simply of potential liabilities and ensure that the people you have teaching outdoor survival skills and orienteering actually have some solid formal training.

(There have been boy scout troupes who have gotten lost, or injured).

First aid is always good to train, but again, ask for local volunteer Paramedics or Firefighters... it is great to teach kids this stuff, but in this day and age ensure that you cover your butt, because if some kid breaks his ankle or something, you are going to need something behind you to convince the parents that it was an accident and not neglect or imcompetence.

Maybe that sounds paranoid and all, but people have blackbelts for a reason in Martial Arts, and there are people with similar certifications in outdoorsmanship and first aid, in any case you always want experts teaching.

But it sounds like a great idea...

(For the record, I have my own office, love my job, make good money, have an awesome, beautiful and wonderful wife who treats me like a king, and my baby isn't born yet... also I have a great guy who does my yard lol)

That's not a bad idea! Personally, I think martial arts is good for young people because it teaches valuable life lessons like respect, discipline, balance, etc. Most people under the age of 21 have no concept of these words.

The problem is: How would you apply martial arts training in a real-world context geared toward development of problem-solving skills? Are you talking about something more akin to martial arts of centuries past, where training did not take place inside a building for the most part? I could see how that would help a student learn that a real-life confrontation that may require self-defense is never as "neat and tidy" as one practiced in a Dojo, however, I'm still having trouble understanding how one would use martial arts skills solving problems in a real-world context...But hey, if you can find a way to make it work, I think it would be valuable.

There are no best arts, only best artists. there are no short paths. Try to find the best school in your area and train there. You feel that self-defense is something that can be bought I believe. Even if someone sells you a "self-defense course" as you are looking for it will not work. If you don't constantly practice this stuff (preferably against other people) it will fail you in a critical moment. Attacks done in the street are committed by criminals. They always have an advantage be surprise, strength, numbers, weapons, etc. These criminals practice this behavior time and again. Not in dojo's or gyms, but for real on victims. Victims never get real practice, only simulated training. Walk wisely my friend, most situations can be avoided with self and environmental awareness.

SiFu,

Let me start by saying; I have followed some of your responses and would like to express how much I appreciate your commitment to the art.

I have raised to boys into adulthood and now have the opportunity to watch my two stepchildren grow up. I would like to see the kids practice more role play. Not necessarily inside or outside the gym, but as a one on one confrontation that begins verbal and is handled with confidence and control. I know this discipline will come in due time, but I don't think it is practiced enough.

It has been my experience with (especially preteens) the youths, the first sign of confrontation can "get the juices flowing". I would like to find away to teach them how to tunnel their thoughts to a sensible solution opposed to a physical one.

Horseback riding is a good way for them to get in touch with nature. My brother used to let underprviledged kids come to his ranch. they would help with feeding the animals and would get to ride them as their reward.

I hope my response has contributed. Thank you.

sounds like a sound idea but be more specific. what do you want these kids to know, necessarily? will it encourage parental support for your program or will it provoke fears that their kids are going to turn out for the worse?

if you're talking like..literal outdoor survival skills then that'd be a great opportunity to teach a skill and to have a bonding adventure with your school. that kinda stuff brings up moral.

street self defense is something my sifu has experimented with. he specified a day and the kids came in dressed in street clothes and we worked self defense drills not necessarily specific to kung fu and we worked abduction drills. "a badguy grabs you and tries to bring you into his van. what do you do?"

other than tht where were you thinking of going?

I don't know about "life skills"but I try to get my guys out of our jammies and into the park at least 1/ month because the world is not covered in tatemi and if you can't pull techniques on terrain in your plain clothes then all the dojo learning isn't worth much.

And it is a lot of fun.

P.S. if you do train outside in public you may want to give the local P.D. a heads up so they don't think some sort of "brawl" is going on

No. People pay good money for Martial Arts training. To get the class together for outings is a great social benefit. My school in particular is great with such things, picnics and movie nights just to name a few.

Wow, you go camping, I would love that!

That is awesome! You ROCK!

Can you give an example of what you mean?

EDIT: I don't think it's a bad idea. It's kind of the "boy scouts" domain, but if you have interest from the students, and all the safety stuff taken care of (I'm sure you do) then go for it.

James

1

No that is not their job, It would be interesting if one offered what you described, but you teach what you know.