Hi there, I'm an Instructor at 2 local schools in the Phoenix area. I'm looking for a way to incorporate more philosophy into teaching, Things such as the Five Tenets of TKD and other character values. Anyone have any cool stories or techniques they use to teach children? And how to get to those "whatever, just teach me to kick" teenagers?

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I CAN"T COMMENT CAUSE MY COMPUTER SUCKS!!!

i think the most effective way is repeating. 
choco empathizes using tkd as the very last source of defense, teaching them to run if they can.  while doing self defense, we always tell them they can always just run as soon as they free themselves rather than engaging in a fight afterwards.  same for combination kicks, he teaches them few moves to create an opening and always tell them that they can run. 
i think it's working pretty well with kids class.  of course, i have no idea what or how they behave outside of dojang, but if we ask them what they can do after a certain move, the first answer from them is always to run or look for an adult near by. 

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i'm delicious

Yeah I find its hard to teach philosophy personally.... I found it was something I grew to undersatnd and appreciate as I got older and trained longer.

What I tend to do is try and keep students motivated by helping them set goals for themselves ie. grading goals, tournament which can take a litlle longer and if they are capable student regional or national team trails. If I can help to achieve their goals and keep them motivated then I can start talk to them about philosophy and introducing them to different thoughts.

Alot of teenagers want to learn to fight or do the "cool" stuff but I find they don't last long in my club. They come in for the wrong reasons and end up leaving. Some change their minds and realise there is more to it than a punch or a kick and have stayed and trained.

But philosophy is something most beginners have difficulty understanding as they haven't had enough experience in the art.

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MaoriJuggernaut

Although we use the fruits of the spirit from a Biblical perspective we also have a Christ like characteristic for the month.  This month, being Mach it's diligence vs. slothfulness.  We find examples to talk about how these tie into not only our traning but school, work, home, etc. 

I am going to tie it into the fact this is our first time having a Spring Shiloh Martial Arts Association tournament, and I have a total of 17 of my own students competing.  I am going to mention if you aren't diligent in your martial arts training, not only in class, but practicing in home, you'll not get the results you want for the tournament.  8 of my students are returning to the floor to compete.  The other 9 are stepping up to give it a try.

I can tie the same thing, into their homework, diligent in studying = good grades, and you can keep training.  Grades drop, and the taekwondo training stops. 

You can do simular discussions, maybe like a sit down group during the cool down stretches, the last 5 minutes of class or so.  We do our verses and character the last 10 minutes of the first class which is for white and yellow belts, but usually by then the advanced students who weren't helping in the first class are arrivigng and jump into the discussion group.

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Kicking4JC = Kicking for Jesus Christ

We have students write essays that must be turned in before they can test for the next level.  These essays are always philosophical in nature and asks the student to comtemplate an appropriate aspect of taekwondo for their training level.

For example, an orange belt testing for green would submit essays answering these two questions:

1.  Define the meaning of respect.
2.  Do you see yourself as a role model?

This forces your students to be thoughtful about the philosophies of taekwondo.

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A Taekwondo Woman

colt64 wrote: Hi there, I'm an Instructor at 2 local schools in the Phoenix area. I'm looking for a way to incorporate more philosophy into teaching, Things such as the Five Tenets of TKD and other character values. Anyone have any cool stories or techniques they use to teach children? And how to get to those "whatever, just teach me to kick" teenagers?

I have the kids say this.

Taekwon-Do is what we do, punch and kick it's good for you.
Courtesy, integrity, make me the best that i can be,
Perseverance, Self Control, will help me reach any goal.
I won't give up and I won't quit,
Because i've got Indomitable spirit.



OK, you try to make a good rhyme with Indomitable Spirit.

EarlWeiss wrote: colt64 wrote: Hi there, I'm an Instructor at 2 local schools in the Phoenix area. I'm looking for a way to incorporate more philosophy into teaching, Things such as the Five Tenets of TKD and other character values. Anyone have any cool stories or techniques they use to teach children? And how to get to those "whatever, just teach me to kick" teenagers? I have the kids say this. Taekwon-Do is what we do, punch and kick it's good for you. Courtesy, integrity, make me the best that i can be, Perseverance, Self Control, will help me reach any goal. I won't give up and I won't quit, Because i've got Indomitable spirit. OK, you try to make a good rhyme with Indomitable Spirit.

I like the rhyme.  I'll have to tell the instructor about this one.

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NEVER GIVE UP & learn one new thing each day!

colt64 wrote:

I have the kids say this.

Taekwon-Do is what we do, punch and kick it's good for you.
Courtesy, integrity, make me the best that i can be,
Perseverance, Self Control, will help me reach any goal.
I won't give up and I won't quit,
Because i've got Indomitable spirit.



OK, you try to make a good rhyme with Indomitable Spirit.


That's brilliant - I would never be able to think of something as good as that!
I'm going to tell my two kids this - it'll help give them a better understanding of the 5 tenents also - cheers

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Don't stop trying

EarlWeiss wrote: colt64 wrote: Hi there, I'm an Instructor at 2 local schools in the Phoenix area. I'm looking for a way to incorporate more philosophy into teaching, Things such as the Five Tenets of TKD and other character values. Anyone have any cool stories or techniques they use to teach children? And how to get to those "whatever, just teach me to kick" teenagers? I have the kids say this. Taekwon-Do is what we do, punch and kick it's good for you. Courtesy, integrity, make me the best that i can be, Perseverance, Self Control, will help me reach any goal. I won't give up and I won't quit, Because i've got Indomitable spirit. OK, you try to make a good rhyme with Indomitable Spirit.

Nice! Best rhyme I've heard so far. Although I think I might have some trouble getting a cheer past my master.... Awesome ideas guys thanks!!

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I CAN"T COMMENT CAUSE MY COMPUTER SUCKS!!!

colt64 wrote: Hi there, I'm an Instructor at 2 local schools in the Phoenix area. I'm looking for a way to incorporate more philosophy into teaching, Things such as the Five Tenets of TKD and other character values. Anyone have any cool stories or techniques they use to teach children? And how to get to those "whatever, just teach me to kick" teenagers?

Have I got some references for you.

Character education is VERY important for kids.

But it can't JUST be taught, it must be demonstrated daily.

But I'm guessing you know that one already if you're up there at the helm of classes.

http://www.ncpublicschools.org/charactereducation/handbook/

There's two handbooks there, in PDF form.

What I would do, and am, in fact, in the process of doing myself, is reviewing those and taking what good ideas I can get from them, to help me bolster my own curriculum.

I hope you find those as helpful as I have.

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Getting through life takes just a LITTLE bit of insanity!*g*