Soja’s Kids Kung Fu Program from freemexy's blog
Our traditional kids class offers a fun, nurturing, and structured environment grounded in respect and community. Your child will be taught in a non-competitive environment where learning takes place according to the pace and skill of each individual student. Progress and development are dependent upon each child’s motivation and hard work, under the skillful direction of experienced instructors.Children KungFu in Shanghai
Our aim is to facilitate personal mastery through a systematic process that is challenging and demanding and thus encourages students to explore their limits and capabilities. We promote the development of self-confidence and self-respect and emphasize self-discipline that gives children the power to resist negative influences.
Our physical exercise movement is a complete, integrated workout that improves strength, balance, and coordination while also increasing concentration and mental acuity. These attributes may enhance performance in other areas of your child’s life.
The Soja Kids Martial Arts Style/Form
Soja teaches the White Crane form of kung fu. The grandmaster and founder of our martial art style chose the white crane as the school’s symbol because of its gracefulness, beauty, and balance in nature. The crane is peaceful and only attacks in self-defense, thereby conveying a sense of harmony that has been infused into our training.
White Crane Kung Fu traces its roots to the traditional systems of martial arts and meditative disciplines of ancient China, Indonesia, and Tibet with direct lineage from the martial arts of the Northern Shaolin Temple. It features many rare and traditional styles, including acrobatics, weapons training, health movements, and some forms specifically designed for women. Forms range from the overtly martial to the dance-like. All styles emphasize flow and grace in movement. The aim of White Crane fighting is not to harm the opponent; instead, the goal is to harmonize with one’s opponent, so that conflict is no longer necessary, to redirect the force of the opponent’s attack rather than absorbing it. In defending oneself, by joining one’s enemy and not seeing oneself as separate, there can be no harm.
How to prepare your child for their first class at Soja
It’s normal for your child to be a little nervous during their first days of class or to think that some of the techniques look too difficult. However, students are grouped with others of the same ability level and mentored by senior students who can empathize because they remember what it was like on their first day. Instructors will do everything possible to make sure your child is able to overcome any fear and nervousness and begin developing confidence in their abilities.
The discipline taught in our martial arts class often helps children develop self-discipline outside of class. As they continue to practice martial arts, children develop a sense of personal commitment, and they learn respect for themselves and for others. This commitment, respect, and discipline often transfer to activities they do in other parts of their lives. Many parents will begin to notice subtle changes in their child’s schoolwork or in their self-control and patience with other children. Another benefit associated with our style of martial arts is improved self-confidence. Any child can do martial arts–all at various levels of proficiency–and everyone can progress and feel a sense of accomplishment. This feeling of progress allows a child to gain confidence in his/her abilities as well as be able to relate effectively to peers and adults.
Our Expectations of Students
We ask that all of our students respect the studio as a place of learning. Therefore, student behavior in the studio should reflect the utmost respect for the school, the instructors, and fellow students. When students enter the studio, they should salute with a “soja” (hand salutation), take their shoes off and neatly put them away, and sign-in. Once they have signed in, they should move to the workout floor and either stretch to warm-up, practice a skill that they have been learning, or sit in meditation. Before, during, or after class, they should only be engaged in activity and conversation related to what they are learning in class. Students are expected to drink any water and use the restroom before or after class to minimize interruption in training.
Belt System
All students begin kung fu classes with a white belt. As they continue to work hard and master a set of standardized movements and demonstrate the positive personal attributes of a true martial artist, they may test to earn a higher rank. Our 3-4-year-old students will receive achievement awards for progress in their physical development. Our 5-6-year-old students will earn a series of stars progressing as follows: yellow, green, orange, red, blue, and brown. Our 7-12-year-olds will earn striped belts progressing as follows: yellow stripe, green stripe, orange stripe, red stripe, blue stripe, and brown stripe. Students showing progress, but not yet ready to test for a higher belt are acknowledge for their efforts after 6 months with a stripe for their current belt. Once a child has reached the age of 13, they will begin training with the adult group that has its own belt system and specialized curriculum.
Our aim is to facilitate personal mastery through a systematic process that is challenging and demanding and thus encourages students to explore their limits and capabilities. We promote the development of self-confidence and self-respect and emphasize self-discipline that gives children the power to resist negative influences.
Our physical exercise movement is a complete, integrated workout that improves strength, balance, and coordination while also increasing concentration and mental acuity. These attributes may enhance performance in other areas of your child’s life.
The Soja Kids Martial Arts Style/Form
Soja teaches the White Crane form of kung fu. The grandmaster and founder of our martial art style chose the white crane as the school’s symbol because of its gracefulness, beauty, and balance in nature. The crane is peaceful and only attacks in self-defense, thereby conveying a sense of harmony that has been infused into our training.
White Crane Kung Fu traces its roots to the traditional systems of martial arts and meditative disciplines of ancient China, Indonesia, and Tibet with direct lineage from the martial arts of the Northern Shaolin Temple. It features many rare and traditional styles, including acrobatics, weapons training, health movements, and some forms specifically designed for women. Forms range from the overtly martial to the dance-like. All styles emphasize flow and grace in movement. The aim of White Crane fighting is not to harm the opponent; instead, the goal is to harmonize with one’s opponent, so that conflict is no longer necessary, to redirect the force of the opponent’s attack rather than absorbing it. In defending oneself, by joining one’s enemy and not seeing oneself as separate, there can be no harm.
How to prepare your child for their first class at Soja
It’s normal for your child to be a little nervous during their first days of class or to think that some of the techniques look too difficult. However, students are grouped with others of the same ability level and mentored by senior students who can empathize because they remember what it was like on their first day. Instructors will do everything possible to make sure your child is able to overcome any fear and nervousness and begin developing confidence in their abilities.
The discipline taught in our martial arts class often helps children develop self-discipline outside of class. As they continue to practice martial arts, children develop a sense of personal commitment, and they learn respect for themselves and for others. This commitment, respect, and discipline often transfer to activities they do in other parts of their lives. Many parents will begin to notice subtle changes in their child’s schoolwork or in their self-control and patience with other children. Another benefit associated with our style of martial arts is improved self-confidence. Any child can do martial arts–all at various levels of proficiency–and everyone can progress and feel a sense of accomplishment. This feeling of progress allows a child to gain confidence in his/her abilities as well as be able to relate effectively to peers and adults.
Our Expectations of Students
We ask that all of our students respect the studio as a place of learning. Therefore, student behavior in the studio should reflect the utmost respect for the school, the instructors, and fellow students. When students enter the studio, they should salute with a “soja” (hand salutation), take their shoes off and neatly put them away, and sign-in. Once they have signed in, they should move to the workout floor and either stretch to warm-up, practice a skill that they have been learning, or sit in meditation. Before, during, or after class, they should only be engaged in activity and conversation related to what they are learning in class. Students are expected to drink any water and use the restroom before or after class to minimize interruption in training.
Belt System
All students begin kung fu classes with a white belt. As they continue to work hard and master a set of standardized movements and demonstrate the positive personal attributes of a true martial artist, they may test to earn a higher rank. Our 3-4-year-old students will receive achievement awards for progress in their physical development. Our 5-6-year-old students will earn a series of stars progressing as follows: yellow, green, orange, red, blue, and brown. Our 7-12-year-olds will earn striped belts progressing as follows: yellow stripe, green stripe, orange stripe, red stripe, blue stripe, and brown stripe. Students showing progress, but not yet ready to test for a higher belt are acknowledge for their efforts after 6 months with a stripe for their current belt. Once a child has reached the age of 13, they will begin training with the adult group that has its own belt system and specialized curriculum.
The Wall