Martial Arts Tips : How to Teach Your Kids Basic Self-Defense

Hi everybody I'm John Graden from the Martial Arts Teachers Association and JohnGraden.com. How do you teach your children self defense? I have a seven year old and a five year old and we're dealing with this all the time. In schools there is typically a zero tolerance for striking, even if it's in self defense your child could get thrown out of school, suspended, or disciplined for striking. So, we want to make sure that we're teaching our children how to protect themselves, but at the same time not getting in trouble and especially not really hurting the other kid. Up until, probably high school, it gets more serious, but when we're talking about elementary school age kids we're talking mostly about school yard type tussles. We can help our children to avoid these things. Number one: we want to make sure that they understand this is self defense not self offense. They're never initiating, they never take the roll of the bully. I want to help them understand the damage of teasing and make sure that they're never participating in that. Number two; top of the list; you have to have an attitude that nobody touches me without my permission. Nobody touches me without my permission. We want to instill that sense of self worth into your children. So, mind set and mental attitude are really the driving forces behind good self defense training. In terms of actual physical techniques; joining me is Mr. Joe McNolley from Pro Star Mixed Martial Arts. Here is what I teach my kids. I could teach them how to knock the kid out with one blow, but what I want to do is help my child to get out of the situation as quick as possible. So, whenever he's grabbed I teach him to ask himself two quick questions. One, just grab my shoulder please; what targets are available to me. I'm teaching my child what parts of the body are more sensitive. It's interesting, if you look at your body the outside of the joint is typically a lot, is hard it can take punishment. The inside is usually pretty sensitive. That applies here to the shoulder too, so one of the things that I tell my kids is if somebody grabs you their arm pits are immediately open. Just reach under there and pinch their arm pit. Most kids will let go instantly. Pinch the ***, they'll let go instantly. You're not striking, you're not hitting, you're not really causing that much pain, but what I want this guy to experience is like he grabbed a hot pot and he wants to let go real fast. It's funny I taught this to my child, Alexander, and he just laughed. He had this kid who was picking on him. I said just reach under there and pinch him under the armpit. He goes no Daddy I'll tickle him, he'll let go, because he said; that's the kind of nature I want out of the child. I want him not to be interested in hurting people. I want him to be interested in protecting himself, because nobody touches him without his permission. So, the two questions I'm going to ask; what targets are available and then what weapons are available?. Typically your hands are free and your legs are free. So, that's my ideas on teaching self defense to children. I'm John Graden. Thank you very much. I hope that helps.