I’m so excited to share more images from Metrics Martial Arts in Appleton, Wisconsin!

Watching the kids in both youth classes is so fun! While the younger kids are learning the basics, the older kids are learning about healthy competition and showing off their advanced skills.

The beginner class, for kids ages five to eight, is a little slower paced as the kids are prompted to do each exercise, walked through takedowns and instructed on proper form. Their instructor, Mr. Eric, really makes sure the kids are comfortable and understand how to perform the moves. He also is very smooth at listening to the little kid chatter and bringing them back to focus- those of you who have little kids or teach them will understand! Children these ages are not known for their long attention-spans, and they can tell long, wordy stories at the drop of a hat- Eric expertly directs them back the lesson or activity at hand.

Each class starts out with a quick, fun warm-up- running, tumbling, push-ups; he really gets the kids moving! Then, formal instruction is balanced nicely with action. Each student is given the opportunity to practice the move slowly, and then once they’re comfortable, they can pick up the pace and try their new skills in real-time.

The older youth class, ages nine to thirteen, was really exciting! This day, the kids were preparing for competition. The boys were good friends- which meant they were learning how to be competitors while still maintaining their friendship. One of the kids mentioned that he felt a little awkward fighting his friend- but it was a valuable lesson to experience. Competition is an essential component of jiu jitsu, and you can’t win a competition if you’re protecting your opponent. The kids were learning how to give it their all to win without creating resentment or hurt feelings- the essence of sportsmanship!

Check out these kids and their awesome moves! And if your little one is looking for a fun sport, check out Metrics Martial Arts.