What shouldn't be taught to young children?

[Mfinn]

When I visited the Shaolin Temple in 2001, there were 100s of kids -- all boys as far as I could tell -- spread out on the plain in front of the temple being taught in groups of 12-18 hard style forms of all kinds. In the temple, I saw boys as young as 8 or 9 learning the same sort of things and doing lots of tough stretching and agility training; even some weight work. I saw no kids learning any internal or what are sometimes called "soft" forms anywhere in China.

My teacher studied only hard style from the age of 15 until 22, when he started in with Lee Soo-Chin in Taiwan; Master Lee was a student of Yang Sho Hao, brother of Yang Cheng Fu. My teacher felt that we had to have the experience of hard style -- kicks, punches etc -- or we would never "get" TCC for real. In my own teaching experience of TCC, I run into grownups all the time who have never even been in a fight of any kind, don't know how to make a fist, etc.

Children need to exercise hard and fast to develop themselves physically. They don't need especially any of the hocus-pocus that typifies the approach of many TCC practitioners these days. They need to punch, kick, play sports, get tired and play.

[Lucas]

What are your guys' feelings on children and tong zi gong?

[-N-]

Originally Posted by taai gihk yahn

FWIW though, I have a friend who is a taiji teacher who is also a phys ed teacher who just started teaching taiji/kung fu to middle school students as part of the PE curriculum (he's been ding kids kung fu classes at his school, and at a summer camp for some years now) - if he's going to be successful, it's because he's a fun guy who knows how to relate to kids - are you?

Young couple to their little kids while watching us work out at the park, "Look, they are doing Tai Chi!. See what they are doing? Look, Tai Chi!"

Corrections to students, "No, circle hands like this, lift up, transition the weight forward. No, under the chin, up, and forward. You are breaking his neck! Like this!"

Nervous looking parents to kids, "Now! It's time to go, now!"

[RWilson]

Originally Posted by -N-

Young couple to their little kids while watching us work out at the park, "Look, they are doing Tai Chi!. See what they are doing? Look, Tai Chi!"

Corrections to students, "No, circle hands like this, lift up, transition the weight forward. No, under the chin, up, and forward. You are breaking his neck! Like this!"

Nervous looking parents to kids, "Now! It's time to go, now!"

That is a great way to get a kid's class going! How many necks have you broken with that technique?

[-N-]

Originally Posted by RWilson

That is a great way to get a kid's class going!

Give context to the motion instead of doing airy fairy hippie tai chi.

Originally Posted by RWilson

How many necks have you broken with that technique?

Exactly the same number as in sparring, hitting the bag, lifting weights, and running.

Zero.

[RWilson]

Originally Posted by -N-

Give context to the motion instead of doing airy fairy hippie tai chi.



Exactly the same number as in sparring, hitting the bag, lifting weights, and running.

Zero.

If you have not broken any necks with said form move...you probably should not make the claim that the move is within the form. Misleading.

[Lucas]

I break necks with that move all the time.

[-N-]

Originally Posted by RWilson

If you have not broken any necks with said form move...you probably should not make the claim that the move is within the form. Misleading.

I wasn't teaching.

And the point was that some of the students were waving their hands around with no clue. And the person teaching wanted them to understand where they were supposed to apply force.

I'll make sure not to say that a hook punch can break a jaw though.

[-N-]

Anyway, just sharing a funny story in reply to the post about teaching tai chi to kids and making things fun for them.

Or you could just scare the parents off.

[SPJ]

All the moves can be taught to kids.

but lower the intensity.

No power issuing.

But posturing allowed.

[-N-]

First day in class.

Daughters of a current student.

4 and 8 years old.

This was play time after doing line drills, basic punches, stretch kicks, and jump kicks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztlK4T5OYio

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llN3H1RXekE

According to the 4 year old, kung fu was the best part of the day.