Self-Defense Classes for Kids
At Krav Maga New York in Somers, New York, we help kids build remarkable focus, coordination, control, confidence, assertiveness and resilience through martial arts. But because martial arts alone is not enough, we also teach our kids Verbal Judo. A system of communication, originally developed for Law Enforcement, that can help kids re-direct and de-escalate abuse language or behavior.
While Krav Maga teaches kids the same practical and effective self-defense techniques we teach adults - and the how to use them - Verbal Judo teaches kids when and why to use them. It is our view that the when and why are as important than the how, because powerful skills come with great responsibility.
Picture this: Your child is sitting at the lunchroom table and another kid sitting across the way continues to flick corn at him, or at someone else sitting next to your kid. Is that acceptable to your child or is it intolerable? Would you want your child to act? Should he tell the kid to stop? Should he tell a teacher? Should he walk away? Or punch the kid in the face?
Any one of these responses has a consequence. No response (walking away) also has a consequence. And the consequences are not just physical, they're also emotional.
We strive to teach kids how to represent themselves well, how to reel in bystanders to create witnesses, how to use verbal re-directors, how to establish safety lines that should not be crossed, how to judge right vs. wrong, and when words fail.
Krav Maga is a fantastic emergency tool - one every child and adult should possess - but it should only be used in the event of an emergency. And if used, we fully believe it should be used for its intended purpose. But in everyday life, and especially in the life of everyday kids, our first and best line of defense is verbal.