There are 8 major skills that our instructors focus on when training children 3 to 6 years of age. Those skill are:

1. Focus
2. Teamwork
3. Control
4. Balance
5. Memory
6. Discipline
7. Fitness
8. Coordination

The Stages of Development of Children

Little Phoenix Ages 3-4

This age group is considered the pre-school group. Many parents and even teachers alike have believed in the past that knowing the alphabet and counting to 20 meant that their children were ready for pre-school and the tasks that follow. But actually, children do not need academic knowledge before they enter school they need listening skills, a good attention span and motor skill development.

Why is this important? Children who participate in outside activities develop faster and better if they acquire the skills mentioned above at an early stage. Studies have proven that children under the age of five who possess the ability to listen and pay attention, tend to perform better in pre-school and elementary education. This jump start can have a dramatic difference in their overall attitude throughout their childhood. Furthermore, children in this age group, with above average gross motor skill development, are more likely to excel in physical and social activities, boosting their level of confidence and emotional state. Again, why is this so important? Because Martial Arts is the prefect source for developing and nourishing the skills that are deemed important to ensure the best possible scenario for childhood experience. In other words, we can make a dramatic difference in a childs life, even for a child as young as 3!

Super Phoenix Ages 5 & 6

Do you think 5 and 6 year olds are ready for a traditional type of Martial Arts curriculum? Not yet, because they are in the growth stage, they lack the preliminary development in their eight basic fundamental skills: Focus, teamwork, control, memory, balance, discipline, fitness and coordination.

A good Martial Arts school can use these eight skills as the foundation of a preliminary curriculum to fully prepare students for the challenging Martial Arts training ahead. Don't rush them; there is no reason to throw an unprepared or under developed child into an advanced Martial Arts program class with older students. Such type of atmosphere tilts the balance of learning. With this said, lets explore how we can take this idea and turn it into two results driven Martial Arts curriculum's that are age-specific.