Kung Fu 4 Kids – Club Rules

Every rule must be followed at all times 

Kung Fu Kids must come to class on time or 5 minutes early. Please do not arrive late or you will not be allowed to join the class.

Parents: Please do not drop and run! If your child is the 1st to arrive for class, a parent or guardian must accompany them into the academy.  They will not be allowed to enter the academy unless there are other children present!  LIKEWISE, please pickup your child promptly at the end of class, we are not responsible for children once their class is over!

There will be no toilet visits except during the class break (go before class!).  Our Hatchlings will need to be brought to the toilet by their parent or guardian.

NB. Any member who loses control of their emotions (temper) will be asked to go home, continuous lack of control will see the member banned from training.

Any member misbehaving in the toilets will be banned from using them!

If you need to leave class early your parents must speak to me or let me know by written letter

Please take all of your belongings (clothes, water bottles etc) home at the end of class. Any items not collected will be disposed of.

Bring Water to class.  No fizzy drinks or sweets are allowed inside the Kung Fu Hall.  Food is not allowed within the academy except during camp and seminars or special occasions.

Chewing gum is not allowed within the academy

No jewellery, watches or any neck or wrist bands/chains etc.

Switch all mobile phones and electronic equipment off before entering the Kung Fu Hall

No rough play!  Keep your hands and feet to yourself and always train and play safely

Be respectful of all instructors, teaching assistants and all adults

When your teacher is speaking, listen carefully, do not talk at the same time

Be respectful of the Academy and all club equipment, do not touch anything without permission

Be polite to all adults and children and always be kind and friendly to other people

Do as you’re asked the first time

Bow as required.  (You will be taught when to bow at class!)

Wear your complete uniform at every class and test

Kung Fu Trousers or Plain Black tracksuit bottoms

Kung Fu 4 Kids Club Tee-shirt

Clean Runners (do not wear shoes worn outdoors on the mats)

Sash (If you have earned a Sash, wear it!)

Safety equipment, bring your gum shield and any other Sanshou equipment to every class!

RULES FOR PARENTS

– Do not come to the academy for a chat during our classes.  It is distracting for the members and instructors alike

– Do not drop and run! If your child is the 1st to arrive for class, a parent or guardian must accompany them into the academy.  They will not be a llowed to enter the academy unless there are other children present!  LIKEWISE, please pickup your child promptly at the end of class, we are not responsible for children once their class is over!

– All our Hatchlings must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to every class.

– Parents be sure all our Kung Fu Kids are ready for class on time and have gone to the toilet before class

– REMEMBER: – The Martial Arts Academy is a food free zone, do not allow siblings or friends to eat in our academy, likewise parents are not permitted to eat anywhere in the academy.  No coffee or tea either!!

– Any siblings coming to watch the class must remain silent and seated for the duration of the class

– Support your child in their home practice! You’ve already done a great job enrolling them with us now help them achieve their goals by using our Facebook page, YouTube Channel and our website www.kungfu4kids.ie

Many Thanks

o Progression through the ranks at this stage is determined by the continuous assessment of each child throughout each term.  Meret Badges are awarded as each child they shows determination, commitment to learning and improve their skill as a result of their efforts.
o Once the relevant merets have been awarded for the grade the child will understand and be able to perform all the criteria for a particular sash.  Use of the grade practice sheet and evidence of their practice at home will be signed off by parents, or in the case of a child who trains multiple time per week the instructor will sign off as they display their skills and knowledge at class..
o The child will be invited to test at the next available grading.  The purpose of awarding the merits on the way to earning the sash, is firstly to acknowledge their hard work and progression throughout their training, secondly to be sure that the stress is removed from any grading period as they will be confident they know and can perform the requirements for the level and thirdly to teach our members the value of hard work and how to set short and long term goals.  NOTE: The merits equate to a 60% score and the sash grading pass score is 70%!
o The Green Sash grading is a cumulative grading which includes all previous Sash requirements plus new material. On completion of this grade a student will graduate from Stage 1 of their training.

STAGE 2: – Purple and Red Sash

o Elements from Yang’s Martial Arts Association’s senior program are incorporated into the Kung Fu 4 Kids training at this Stage.
o Members are invited to test for any further grades from this stage onwards.
o Green Sash holders have the option of joining YMAA International.
o Purple and Red Sash Holders (as long as they are YMAA International members) can test for parts or all of their 1st Shaolin Stripe with Master Yang during his annual visit to Ireland.

STAGE 3: – Brown Sash, Black Tip and Black Sash

o A “Path to Black Sash” Plan is created in conjunction with the student and their parents to help them achieve their goals during this stage.
o At this stage the student must be a member of YMAA International and will be expected to train along with the Adult Shaolin students on a regular basis.
o He/She must hold the rank of 1st Shaolin Stripe.
o Members are invited to test for their grades at this stage.
o YMAA International members can test for his/her 2nd Shaolin Stripe with Master Yang during his annual visit to Ireland.
o On the awarding of the 2nd Shaolin stripe, an agreed date (between Instructor, Student and Parents) is set for the Final and Ultimate test. Once the date has been agreed the student will be invited to test for their Black Sash!

Hatchlings

A pre-cursor to our Kung Fu 4 Kids program these classes are for school-going Junior and Senior infants and is a ‘Recreational Kung Fu’ program tailored to focus open developing Concentration, Coordination and Confidence through introducing them to Kung Fu and exercise through martial arts orientated games and activities.  The program is geared towards helping our youngest members find their voice and build there confidence as they are venturing off into the big new world of primary school.  This program will help them in school and all other activities as they grow but of course the main purpose these classes is fun, fun, fun!

Our program teaches allot of the fundamentals of a traditional Kung Fu style, with our Kung Fu Kids enjoying learning how to punch and kick pads, jump, flip and roll and develop their coordination and concentration with dodging, catching and focus games!

Once child has reached 6 years old they can begin training in the full Kung Fu 4 Kids Program.

Little Cranes

These are our beginners between the ages of 6 and 8 who are training to build their fundamental motor skills through fun and games in a Martial Arts format. It is very difficult to obtain proficiency in sport skills unless the prerequisite fundamental skills are present. The fundamental skill phase of development begins in early childhood at about two to three years, and individuals have the potential to be fully proficient in most of them by about seven years of age. Complete development of the fundamental skills is very much dependent upon environmental influences in the form of practice, learning and teaching. We incorporate such activities as jumping, kicking, catching, rolling and spinning to help develop the necessary co-ordination for an active and healthy child. This class is open to both boys and girls and will see them progressing on a continuous assessment basis towards earning their first grade ‘White Sash’.

Shouting Cranes

These are beginners over the age of 8 years and also consist of those who have graduated with a minimum of a White Sash from the Little cranes programs.  The basic building blocks of the Kung Fu program are the focus of this class.  These are Kung Fu stance training, kicking, punching, blocking, footwork and jumping as well as self defence, stranger danger and how to cope with Bullying .  The development of concentration and courtesy are another important aspect of our Kung Fu training.  Grading from white to blue and blue to yellow is done on a continuous assessment basis with coloured stars awarded as a child shows dedication through practice and becomes proficient in specific areas of the grade.  Continuous Assessment allows each of our own Kung Fu Kids to progress at their own pace while at the same time learning to set goals and see them accomplished through hard work.  The regular awarding of stars helps to build  confidence through their own achievements and teaches our members the benefit of focused effort.

Flying Cranes

Our Kung Fu 4 Kids will move from the Shouting Cranes class to Flying Cranes classes once they are deemed ready for the intermediate levels of the Kung Fu 4 Kids program. Generally these classes will consist of those working towards graduating from Stage 1 of the Junior program.   Our Flying Cranes also have the chance to prepare for Wushu competitions, consisting of wrestling and Chinese Kickboxing events and will prepare the students to enter Stage 2 of the program and begin to work on Yang’s Martial Arts International Program.  This program builds upon the fundamentals of the Shaolin Longfist styles and introduces Whitecrane Kung Fu to their program.  (Not suitable for beginners.)

Fighting Cranes

Our most advanced students work within the Fighting cranes program and at this stage in their training the Kung Fu 4 Kids program merges with the Shaolin levels 1 and 2 from our Master, Dr, Yang, Jwing Mings YMAA International program.

Also at this level of training, each grade after stage 1 (completion of green sash), the student must must partake in an element of Kung Fu sparring at each grading from Purple to Black sash.  This is where the application of the traditional training and the Sanshou practice come under scrutiny and where the students really begins to see and results of the hard work during the foundation grades.

From the fighting cranes program there is a progression into the YMAA Teens club, where our teenagers will find a friendly, sociable, enjoyable yet challenging environment to carry on their training. (We welcome beginners into our YMAA Teens club from 12 – 16 years.)