Stages of Development
The 8 Age-Appropriate Skills

We use core elements of traditional Martial Arts curriculums to build skills that are appropriate for 7 to 14-year olds.

This means your child will learn and grow at a pace that is not too easy, not too difficult, but challenging enough.

By understanding the stages of development of 7 to 9 and 10 to 14-year olds, we were able to select 8 age-appropriate skills that make up our core program.

7 to 9 Year-Olds

1. AGILITY:

Switching feet and kicking the pad with their front leg. They must be able to switch feet and kick a pad with their front leg ten times in a row, without making a mistake or looking sloppy, in order to pass..

2.TECHNIQUE

Demonstrating the three stage 1 block’s and three stage 1 strikes from memory. They must show the proper chambers and ending position for all of the moves in order to pass.

3. COURAGE

Dodging targets that are thrown at them from five steps away. They must be able to dodge five targets in a row in order to pass.

4. FLEXIBILITY

Holding middle splits. They must be able to hold the middle splits for 30 seconds without falling in order to pass.

5. INTENSITY:

Palm strike board break. They must break a board with a palm strike in three shots or less in order to pass.

6. PERSEVERANCE

Holding each static leg, arm, abdominal, and core exercise. They must not lose technique or else they have to start over. They must hold each exercise for no less than ten seconds in order to pass.

7. SPEED

Demonstrating the blocking, kicking, and striking combinations. They must perform the combination with proper technique three times in a row in fifteen seconds or less in order to pass.

8. CONCENTRATION

Performing the stage 1 form. They must perform each move with proper chambers and execution in order to pass.

10 to 14 Year-Olds

1. DEXTERITY:

Demonstrating the three stage 1 block’s and three stage 1 strikes from memory. They must show the proper chambers and ending position for all of the moves in order to pass.

2. REACTION

Demonstrating basic single-hand grab escapes. They must apply the proper escape techniques within three seconds, four times in a row in order to pass.

3. VERSATILITY

Execution of stage 1 form. They must perform each move with proper chambers and execution in order to pass.

4. MOMENTUM

Demonstrating the three types of jump front kicks. They must show proper technique in each of the kicks, five times in a row in order to pass.

5. PRECISION:

Palm strike board break. They must break a board with a palm strike in three shots or less in order to pass.

6. INSTINCT

Performing the first sparring combination on focus mitts. They must hit the mitts with proper technique, speed, and power, three times in a row in order to pass.

7. STRENGTH

Holding each static leg, arm, abdominal, and core exercise. They must not lose technique or else they have to start over. They must hold each exercise for no less than ten seconds in order to pass.

8. VISION

Reciting the definition and meaning behind life-skill, concentration. They must provide the correct answer while speaking confidently in order to pass.

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Brian Fleck, Master Instructor, My Traveling Dojo

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