How do you teach teens?

[badsifu]

I thought about putting this in business practices, but I'll save it for later.

I am finishing up the next phase of the KajuPRO series which focuses on working with Teens.  I thought I'd ask some of the other Kaju people out there how they teach teenagers. 

So I'm asking....

[envisiontj]

Well I am not exactly sure what you want to know.  For a couple of years I had alot of teenage students as I was teaching in 3 different high schools here in Portland.  Some of those students are still with me.  In fact, in 2005, I brought two 17 year olds down to KSDI in Vallejo - Josh and Skyler.  Skyler was just in class tonight, in fact I just got home from dropping him off at his house.  Josh is also still active, along with some others.

Anyways, what exactly would you like for information?

[badsifu]

Well I am not exactly sure what you want to know.  For a couple of years I had alot of teenage students as I was teaching in 3 different high schools here in Portland.  Some of those students are still with me.  In fact, in 2005, I brought two 17 year olds down to KSDI in Vallejo - Josh and Skyler.  Skyler was just in class tonight, in fact I just got home from dropping him off at his house.  Josh is also still active, along with some others.

Anyways, what exactly would you like for information?

My main goal is to open up a discussion.  The focus being how you teach your teens.  So do you teach them with your adults?  Do you teach teens different than you teach your adults?  What curriculum do you give them?  Etc etc. 

I don't want to be too specific because I'd like to see all kinds of answers.  Not just the techniques you teach them, but I want to see the idea behind it.

[NYKaju]

I thought about putting this in business practices, but I'll save it for later.

I am finishing up the next phase of the KajuPRO series which focuses on working with Teens.  I thought I'd ask some of the other Kaju people out there how they teach teenagers. 

So I'm asking....

Like adults

[Gints Klimanis]

My club had a number of teens in Rich Lewis's club during the 90's.  Then, well, they weren't teens anymore.  I wouldn't say they should be taught as adults.  I'll talk about two of them.  There were a pair of brothers experienced with 10 years of TKD before starting this club.  They could't take the beating as much and would bawl pretty much every class.  Their Dad thought this was a good source of discipline because Rich ran his class military style, really, as he says he did when he was in Special Forces during the 60's overseas. One brother didn't last long even though his build was bigger.   Overall, their memories weren't as strong, so they memorized fewer moves and needed more reminders.  However, I'd also say that this was probably specific to these brothers.   There were a pair of teen sisters that trained for about five years, and they loved the art.  However, push them too hard or speak to them too sternly and the tears would flow.  So, I wouldn't say treat them as adults, especially female teens.  There's a reason you have to be at least 15 to have an adult grade. 

[NYKaju]

[Hook]

I understand that they are not fully grown but are more mature then the little kids, so I TRY to give them some respect, as befits a young adult. This is not an easy thing to accomplish, seeing as how they often revert to being childish. It is an endeavor of will. If my will to teach is strong enough I believe I will succeed. If not, I will kill them all and end up in jail. (that was a joke I am not homocidal, at least not often) The point I am trying to make is the use of patience, and barring that, I make them do push ups. I do occassionally have to raise my voice slightly, but I try not to. I know some of them do not have the most stable of home lifes.

[Rob Poelking]

Since I don't have any teens yet I'll speak from what I've observed my instructor does.

Pretty much we have two classes, children ( under 13 ) and Adults (over 13). Get the picture?  He was never militant about instruction. Kids are kids and you have to be authoritative (read louder) at times and in extreme cases, horse stance training for them if one really got out of hand. But in the adult class, he ran it as he would for any adult.

We (modern Western civilization) created the Adolescent stage as in the  past and in other cultures there is no such thing. Sigung Ray pushes teenagers and adults alike and seeing 2 of the teenagers actually make it to black belt, I'd say his philosophy is one worth copying.

[kajudru]

Like adults

I agree with James. Although I am not a teacher, we do have two teens in my BJJ class, a 14 year old and 16 year old and they are treated the same way as the adults. I think teens don't like it when they are treated like children, which is what they deal with everyday at school and sometimes at home, and one reason they like martial arts is because they are treated with respect and dignity along with the adult students. Plus I think they like the fact that rank means more then age in martial arts (to some degree).

Here is a good/funny radio program on talking to kids. The first part is probably the more relevant to this discussion, although the last one is funny (especially if you have kids of your own).
http://www.thislife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?episode=341

[KajuJKDFighter]

I treat them pretty much the same, their focus tends to be less, thinking about others things.  i give them the reminder that though they may wear the same size cups they haven't quite filled them out out so respect you're elders.......

[LOYALONEHK]

I am not currently teaching teens but in the past and in the future, the big difference I do is; 

Adults = no Gi unless its a special event and no worries about belts, etc.  Certificates are given and the Gi and belt up until green is optional.  I am only promoting white - green - brown - black with them.

Teens = Gi is mandatory after 1 month and belts will be worn.  Class has more discipline and structure being enforced than the adults.  Also, white - blue - green - brown - black.

Thats my .2 c's

Adults should know their place and if they dont, I just put em in check.

[badsifu]

So with all of that being said, how successful are you in the method in which you are teaching teens.  Success can be characterized many ways...so describe what success is for you and your program.

For me, I don't teach teens like adults.  I don't teach them like kids.  They are teens.  I am always out on the floor working with the teens class and there is very little in the way of "military" style structure (which I don't have that for my kids either.)  When you consider that the teen market is HUGE and with the popularity of UFC, it makes sense for you to evaluate how you are conducting classes for that age group.  It also makes sense that if you are going to teach that age group, that you market to that age group.  Finally, if you are doing all of that, then you should be successful in how you are approaching it.

So, how "successful" are you in teaching teens in your method? 

[William Badders]

I agree with KaJuDru, they need to be treated like adults.  Also they are ready to learn the adult curriculum, of course some people learn slower and other stuff has facters.  BUt they like not to be treat like kids.  One time I went to a Shaolin Do dojo, I had about 12 years under my belt in the martial arts and they just keep treating me like a kid so it made me feel like the teacher was showing me disrespect so I did not say there.

[Gints Klimanis]

I agree with KaJuDru, they need to be treated like adults.  Also they are ready to learn the adult curriculum, of course some people learn slower and other stuff has facters.  BUt they like not to be treat like kids.  One time I went to a Shaolin Do dojo, I had about 12 years under my belt in the martial arts and they just keep treating me like a kid so it made me feel like the teacher was showing me disrespect so I did not say there.

William, how old were you at the time ?

[badsifu]

well, it was Shaolin Do...