BLACKBELT Zone Fitness Academy in Westbury is offering ‘Tiger Cubs’ karate lessons for children aged three to six to give young ones a headstart in life skills and fitness.
Trainer Tony Preston says, “For those of us old enough to remember the karate training of the 70s, the training was hard, kicking of students to correct stances was not unusual and students under the age of 14 were very rare.
“Even six years ago I would have found it hard to believe that it was possible to teach karate to under five-year-olds. Then I heard and saw that instructors in the USA were doing this and prepared a special programme to teach this age group.
“The 30-minute classes consist of group exercises, fun games, basic karate techniques and life skills. Each student competes against each other to get their meaning correct for courtesy, perseverance, humility, courage and honesty.
“Each week a student will come up with a new meaning for courtesy. They learn their ‘student creed’, which tells them what they can and can’t do with their karate skills.
“They practise the ‘black belt stare’ where they have to sit cross-legged, back straight and keep still for a certain period of time. Merit badges, belt tabs and gradings are given and held regularly to keep the students motivated.
“The duration of this class is 30 minutes and the class is no bigger than ten students and sometimes as small as four students, depending on how much attention they need.
“Obviously the younger three year-olds need more attention than the six year-olds and one of the parents must stay for the duration of the class.
“We have found that when a child starts at three years old and then progresses to the next age group at seven years old, they are so far advanced in their focus and attention to detail, they often are better at karate, better at school, and more courteous and respectful of their parents at home.”
Blackbelt Zone Fitness Academy, on Washington Road, holds classes for three to six year-olds on Wednesdays and Fridays from 5-5.30pm.
For more information contact Tony via 01373 859777 or blackbelt_zone@hotmail.com or go to www.blackbelt-zone.moonfruit.com
