Samurai School Martial Arts for Kids 7 to 12 years
Shinobi Teens Martial Arts 13 to 16 years
The Samurai School is our longest running and most successful program. It is a fun non-competitive Martial Art combining both traditional and modern technologies to help develop a strong and confident human being.
In recent years the Samurai School has been taught in primary and secondary schools, as either an ‘After School’ or physical education elective.
Our classes have helped children experience improvements in self-confidence, concentration, awareness and physical fitness. Samurai School also places an importance on both team working and individual goal setting, and especially good behaviour – in class, at home, and at school.
What happens in class?
All classes begin (and end) with the practise of gratitude and respect. Through our bowing-in and bowing-out ceremonies, as well as other classroom etiquette, we show our readiness to learn and say thank you;
- To each other, for making it possible for us to grow
- To our teachers, for their unique experiences
- To martial arts itself, for the benefits offered to us
Learning to fall safely is the first and most important skill we teach; falling over is after all a more common occurrence than is a fight. Next we work to develop awareness, balance and body movement in order to avoid conflict, and should the worst happen, evade an attack. Finally we learn and develop physical techniques such as blocking, punching, kicking, and grappling; provding both health and self defence benefit.
Students will learn and practise through special games and activities, kata (set patterns), and kihon (attack drills) in a safe supervised environment. At lower levels students activities involve unarmed techniques and at higher levels weapons are introduced to enhance unarmed skills. Safety is paramount and students wear protective gloves. Soft pads and shields are also used to develop reflexes, power and focus.
Self defence drills are learned at low speed and at the higher levels students must demonstrate at higher speeds whilst wearing body armour. We believe Martial Arts is about self development first, self defence second, and as such the Samurai School does not do competitions.
We do not teach a “fight to win at all cost” mentality, our training is about living. The best fights are, more often than not, the ones that never happen.
Monitoring progress
We use a combination of Merit-Badges and Grading’s to assess student progress. There are 34 technical Merit-Badges to guide students between colour-strip belt awards; Yellow, Orange, Green, Blue, Purple, Brown, Black(stripe), Shodan-ho/Junior Black Belt.
Junior Black Belts are automatically upgraded to full Black Belt or Shodan when they graduate to the Teen Shinobi program on their 14th birthday; Shinobi Teens is Martial Arts for 14 to 16 years.
Merit-Badges are sewn down the left sleeve of the uniform.
Whenever a Samurai School student turns 14 years of age they graduate to Shinobi Teens. This is indicated by the change of uniform patch from the Samurai School badge to the Mu Te Shin Do badge.
What to wear
During the trial period students should wear a t-shirt and tracksuit bottoms.
Once the trial is over Samurai School students wear a black uniform (gi-gee) and white belt (obi-obee). A plain black t-shirt can be worn underneath the jacket during cooler weather or instead of the jacket during hot summer days. You can purchase our Samurai School black tshirt from your instructor.
What to bring?
Please bring a drink of water to every class.
Student members must bring their protective gloves to all classes.
