What is the Young Samurai program?

This program meets the highest standards of current research in martial arts education for children ages 3-6. The program targets preschoolers in their prime developmental stages of listening and functioning. The program helps children reach their maximum potentials and develop their minds and bodies.

Why should I enroll my child in Young Samurai?

The advantages of this program are endless. For starters it builds confidence, commitment and coordination. It will improve your child’s memory, provide fitness education, develop leadership skills and build long-lasting friendships. But the best part of the program is that IT'S FUN!

What is special about a martial arts course for children?

Children have different needs than adults do. Children need to be taught in a manner that builds their self-image and teaches them patience, focus, self-discipline, and many other qualities that will help them become functional, successful adults. Some schools offer children a watered-down version of the same skills their 20-year-old students are learning. Children don’t respond to this approach.

(Source: NAPMA Children's Curriculum)

What are the benefits of martial arts education for my child?

Learning martial arts offers a huge number of benefits for a child in the development of mental, physical, and social skills. Some of these benefits are:

Confidence
Physical motor skill development
Positive social interaction
Reinforcement of strong morals and values
Character development
(Source: Shuman Concepts Online Journal)

What will my child learn as a Young Samurai?

Throughout your child's Young Samurai training, he or she will learn a set of eight valuable skills. These skills include focus, teamwork, control, balance, memory, discipline, fitness and coordination. As your child excels through this program, he or she will gain various benefits that will help your child grow and mature.

What are the eight skills my child will be focusing on?

Your child will learn eight important skills in the Young Samurai Program. In order to develop each skill properly, the Young Samurai program specifies that one skill is taught per class. And as you know, preschoolers respond better to play, thus each class holds a variety of game-like drills relating to his or her skill level that are fun and motivational. These serve to capture your child's attention and allow them to retain Young Samurai skills.

Skill #1 FOCUS

RED

This skill will help your child's aim, listening skills and reaction skills. They will excel faster in any physical activities. Your child will also become a better listener and a more focused student in school.

Sample focus drill: Ninja Ball

The Samurais split up into lines with an instructor at the front of each line. The instructor bounces the ball to the first ninja in line. The ninja must strike the ball back to the instructor with the technique that the instructor has chosen - for example, a palm strike or a kick. The ninja then goes to the back of the line and the next ninja takes a turn.

The quality of focus will help your child's aim, listening and reaction skills. They will excel faster in any physical activity. Your child will also become a better listener and a more focused student in school. Your child will begin to look specifically at what they are doing. For example, when your child does the dishes, he or she will have the focus to look where he or she is going when handling breakables.

Source: Little Samurai Manual

Skill #2 TEAMWORK

BLUE

Teamwork is necessary for any young child to develop. The more confident your child is willing to work with others, the more he or she will accomplish. Your child will develop character, which will help him or her make new friends and become a better leader.

Sample teamwork drill: Samurai Relay

The Samurais are divided up into two teams and each team is allowed to choose its own name. Both teams line up behind a relay line. Across the floor, two instructors hold padded targets. The Samurais at the front of the line on both teams race to the targets and strike them with a technique that the instructor has chosen, such as a punch or a kick. The Samurai waiting in line cheer for their teammates. The first Samurai then runs back to the starting line and tags his or her next teammate in line, and sits down at the back of the line.

The development of teamwork skills will help your child show more confidence in working with others, which allows them to accomplish more in life. Your child will develop character, which will help him or her make new friends and become a better leader in life. Your child will also experience healthy competition, which is how your child will learn to strive to become the best that he or she can be.

Source: Little Samurai Manual

Skill #3 CONTROL

GREEN

Having control means making good decisions. Whether your child is handling a pet or handling a problem, he or she will learn to make the right decisions. Control builds confidence.

Sample control drill: Samurai Bubble Wrap

Samurai take turns walking across a big piece of bubble wrap arranged on a board. First they must show control by walking softly and not popping any bubbles. Then, they must walk across purposefully popping the bubbles.

The quality of control will help your child will learn the difference between being soft and being hard. He or she will learn when to use power and when not to use power. It's important to know how to be soft when playing with friends, holding a small child or animal, etc. Sometimes it's important to be hard, like when performing techniques in martial arts class. The quality of control will help your child develop control of what they say, how they feel, and what they do physically. Your child will strive to be cool, which means not losing his or her temper and not being too rough.

Source: Little Samurai Manual

Skill #4 BALANCE

YELLOW

This skill is crucial to develop at an early age. Your child is beginning to participate in many physical activities that are challenging, like riding a two-wheel bike. Your child will develop good balance and better posture.

Sample balance drill: Samurai Stances

Two lines of tape are laid, two feet apart, on the mat. Each samurai walks along the mat with a foot on each line, using the stances they have learned in class: front stance, middle stance, and rear stance. Samurais try to keep their balance and make smooth transitions between stances.

The skill of balance is crucial to develop at an early age. Your child is beginning to participate in many physical activities that are challenging, like riding a two-wheel bicycle. This drill will help your child develop better balance, posture, and coordination when they walk. Having a strong, confident walk and posture can be very effective on people's first impressions.

Source: Little Samurai Manual

Skill #5 MEMORY

ORANGE

Developing a good memory is exercise for your child's brain. The sooner your child exercises, the smarter he or she will become. Our drills are constantly helping your child think and make smart decisions.

Sample memory drill: The Jungle Game

The instructor and the Samurai pretend they are in the jungle. When the instructor calls out an object, such as "branch," the Samurai must duck. If the instructor says "log," they must jump. If the instructor says "bear," they must pretend to be sleeping so the bear does not see them.

This drill will help your child develop good memory. They will earn how to remember specific names and commands and react appropriately. In school, teachers have specific signs and motions to keep the students in control. Your child will be confident and disciplined to respond to those signs with enthusiasm.

Source: Little Samurai Manual

Skill #6 DISCIPLINE

WHITE

NY Jiu Jitsu instructors use the Young Samurai drills to help create the vision that discipline is fun and rewarding. Your child will take pride in doing the right thing. Your child will also follow directions better.

Sample discipline drill: Samurai Rating Game

All the Samurai sit like Black Belts. The instructor and the Samurai discuss the difference between sitting like a perfect 10 and sitting like a 1. The Samurai demonstrate what a 1 looks like. They continue up the scale until they reach 10, with 10 being the best sitting position. They use the same concept for standing at attention.

As a child, when your hero speaks, you listen. Children are captivated by the martial arts and want to be just like their instructors. As an instructor, we utilize the ability to inspire our youth by encouraging them to stay focused on the good and not the bad. We make discipline cool, which kids pick up on and embrace as a part of their daily habits. This drill will help your child see the difference between sloppiness and neatness. You can use this drill to rate their chores, like how clean their room is.

Source: Little Samurai Manual, Shuman Concepts Online Journal

Skill #7 FITNESS

BLACK

It is important for children to understand the importance of being healthy and physically fit. If your child does not burn off excess energy exercising, how will he or she burn off all that energy?

Sample fitness drill: Frog Squat Jumps

The Samurais pretend they are frogs. They put their hands on their heads and bend their knees as low as they can go while keeping their backs straight. When the instructor counts, the Samurais jump as high as they can while making a loud frog sound.

This drill makes exercising fun. It will also make your child strong as they develop muscles. Kids love this drill because they learn by play and imagination. The animation will help your child develop an outgoing personality, which will help them interact and communicate better with others.

Source: Little Samurai Manual

Skill #8 COORDINATION

BROWN

Your child will learn left from right. They will become better physical participants in sports and activities. The better coordination your child has, the fewer injuries your child will sustain.

Sample coordination drill: Samurai Kickboxing

All the samurais line up while the instructor holds two targets. The first samurai in line punches the left target with their left hand, the right target with their right hand, and then ducks when the instructor swings the target by their head. The next time around, they do the same with kicking.

This drill will help your child learn their left from their right. It will build your child's hand and foot to eye coordination, which will improve their performance while playing an instrument or participating in physical activities. The better coordination your child has, the fewer injuries they will have in any activity.

Source: Little Samurai Manual

Source for skill descriptions: Young Samurai Manual

How big are the Young Samurai classes?

Each class is limited to a maximum of 12 students. This is just the right size for your child to get the personal attention that he or she needs from the instructor.

Since class space is limited, you won't want to miss out - sign up now!

Which class will my child be placed in?

Children learn best when they learn with other children their own age, so we will place your child in a class according to his or her age group:

Mini Samurai: 3-4 year-olds
Little Samurai: 5-6 year-olds

(For older kids, see the Mighty Samurai and Elite Samurai FAQ.)

Why are the classes arranged by age group?

Children have specific characteristics that are consistent with other children in their age group, or stage of development. Physically, mentally, socially, and intellectually, each stage varies in capabilities from the others.

For example, 3-year-olds are very new to the world. They will stick with a task if they are emotionally excited about it, but their social skills are not yet developed. 4-year-olds understand commands better, and they enjoy competition with others, so they won't act out of line when they are working in teams. 5- and 6-year-olds are gaining a sense of independence. They are also learning their left from their right, therefore practicing and training in repetitions is more enjoyable because they can follow directions without needing so much help.

If children at different stages of development take a class together, the older students will get bored, and they will want to move immediately to something more challenging if they see that the younger students can do something they can do. At the same time, since they older students can do more, the younger students will become frustrated and want to quit.

(Source: Shuman Concepts Online Journal)

What if my child has studied a martial art before?

If your child has trained in a martial art before, please speak to an instructor. We will be happy to assess his or her previous experience and help you select an appropriate class according to skill, age, and developmental level. It is our goal to help your child get the greatest possible benefit out of the class.

Who are the Young Samurai instructors?

A martial arts instructor is not just a teacher. He or she is also a role model and a hero - someone that your child will look up to.

Please click here to view the bio for our Young Samurai Instructors.

How often do the classes meet?

Classes are available for each age group 3 days a week. All Young Samurai are welcome to come all three days. We recommend the following as a minimum:

Mini Samurai (3-4 year olds): 1 class per week minimum
Little Samurai (5-6 year olds): 2 classes per week minimum

The older students participate in two classes per week. That gives them a larger variety of drills and more practice learning that week's skill.

However, if you are unable to bring your 5 or 6-year-old to 2 classes per week, we have an arrangement in which they can attend just 1 class per week and still reap the benefits.

How long is each class?

The length of the class depends on the age group. For 3-6 year olds, the classes are 30 minutes in duration, and follow a schedule of fun and educational activities.

Each class includes stretches and warm-ups, three drills on the Skill for the Week, and review of a Young Samurai Personal Development Skill, like Knowing When to Call 911, Stay Away From Strangers, and Always Taking Good Care of Yourself.

Will my child learn a particular martial art, like jiu jitsu or karate?

The Samurai curriculum is designed to be fun for children and enrich their lives with the unique benefits of martial arts. Our curriculum will teach your child and help them build basic skills. It does not originate from any one style nor does it owe a debt to any particular individual. It is not taekwondo, kenpo, kung-fu, or jiu Jitsu; it is simply "martial art." The education-based curriculum rests on a foundation of education above tradition, technique, and country of origin. Your child will learn skills that will serve them in any physical or mental pursuit in the future.

(Source: NAPMA Children's Curriculum)

Can my child earn a colored belt? How will my child be promoted through the Young Samurai program?

Each week, your Young Samurai will work on one of the eight skills: focus, teamwork, control, balance, memory, discipline, fitness and coordination.

When a Mini Samurai learns a skill, he or she earns a special sticker for that skill. Stickers are a great way for the youngest kids to track their progress and development.

When a Little Samurai learns a skill, he or she earns a skill stripe - a colored stripe added to his or her belt that indicates progress. Once your child has all eight skill stripes, he or she is eligible for promotion to the next belt. This will be after approximately 8 weeks in the program.

This chart shows a typical progression that your Little Samurai can expect to follow through the belt levels.

Note: If your Young Samurai already has a particular stripe, and attends a class where that skill is taught again, he or she will receive a sticker instead of a stripe.

Will my child stay motivated in the class?

Martial arts has a lot of fun and variety - that's why it's a great way to help your child learn to stay motivated and interested in his or her activities!

When a child is intrinsically motivated to do something, they are choosing to do the activity for no reason beyond the satisfaction derived from the activity itself.

Children really do have the desire to master challenges, mostly when they are not burdened by the restraints or expectations of others. Take for example when a child is learning how to ride a bike, tie a shoe, or blow a bubble with their chewing gum. They'll spend hours trying to accomplish this task. What's important to understand is that the task or activity must be within the child's capabilities. If the task is too difficult the child will cry or give up. If it's too easy, the child will dismiss the task and seek out something else that captures his or her attention.

This is why our Little Samurai classes are tailored to children in their different developmental stages. Each class is tailed for children of a certain age, keeping them interested and focused. Motivation is one of the things they can learn from the class.

(Source: Shuman Concepts Online Journal)

Do the instructors use rewards or punishments to make the children behave?

Neither. Rewards and punishments actually manipulate a child's learning process. If you try to control a child's motivation with a reward, the child will become a conformist and feel they never have to learn or make decisions, just obey. By the same token, punishments can have several negative side effects. Some children who are threatened with a punishment will become deceitful and try to avoid their punishment like it’s a game.

Our instructors work hard to challenge the Young Samurai, keeping the child’s focus "in the game" before having to resort to any sort of punishment.

What if my child misbehaves or doesn't learn one of the skills?

It's only natural that children learn physical skills and self-control at different rates. Any child who doesn't perform the skill for the day at a satisfactory level will receive a small sticker instead of a skill stripe. If this happens, don't worry! We will talk with you and your child after class about what went wrong. We can also suggest a homework assignment to improve that skill.

(Source: Shuman Concepts Online Journal)

The Young Samurai see the drills as games. They accommodate all ranks and styles.