When the teacher asks the children, “What is the biggest room in the world?” the well-trained students will respond, “the room for improvement.” This principle underpins the MATA Children’s Curriculum, which was created to enhance how martial arts are taught to children.
Despite the many benefits of martial arts, too many children drop out due to boredom or lack of engagement. It’s estimated that about 90% of children who enroll in martial arts classes do not continue to the rank of first-degree black belt. This dropout rate is often attributed to the children's lack of discipline, but in reality, it reflects a failure to engage and retain students long enough to instill these values.
The MATA Children’s Curriculum addresses this challenge by making martial arts fun and enriching. It focuses on what children need in today’s world and how martial arts can fulfill those needs. The curriculum is diverse and innovative, designed to nurture, entertain, and motivate children while being easy for instructors to teach.
Key Features
- Quality Over Quantity: The curriculum reduces the number of techniques to allow for more focused and effective teaching, improving student competence and confidence.
- Theme-Based Learning: Each belt level follows a different theme, providing variety and keeping students engaged. Themes range from basic fundamentals to partner training and pad power.
- Education-Based Approach: The curriculum balances martial arts techniques with valuable life lessons, including manners, anger management, conflict resolution, anatomy, history, goal setting, and public speaking.
- Ease of Teaching: It is designed to be easy for instructors to implement, whether as a standalone program or integrated into existing systems.
Benefits
The MATA Children’s Curriculum aims to reduce dropout rates and ensure that children reap the full benefits of long-term martial arts training. This approach not only prepares young students for success in martial arts but also equips them with essential life skills for their future.
By prioritizing education and making learning engaging, the MATA Children’s Curriculum ensures that today's young students will carry the martial arts and its potential for self-improvement, empowerment, and personal transformation into the future.
