Self-confident through martial arts pedagogy
Martial art pedagogy means that deficient behavior is reappraised with children and adolescents by dealing with combat situations and training of body and mind. Martial arts are a way to take the "external", and the "internal" fight into a healthy direction. Maturation is initiated by consistent exercises.
Martial arts pedagogy combines educational concepts and practices with Far Eastern tradition. With head, hand and heart, children and young people learn about their own strengths, learn to deal with failure and recognize their limits as an opportunities and challenges. Through the inevitable "confrontation" with themselves and others, children grow up to the lessons learned. The experience does not end in the practice room, but is transferred to everyday life.
Of course, martial arts are designed to attack and to defend. However, this aspect is only one among many in responsibly managed schools and associations. Through accompanying cooperation, children should acquire strategies and opportunities for avoiding physical conflict.
Jörg Weidner teaches at the Catholic College of social education in Ulm. He has been engaged with martial arts in his early youth. He includes his experience with Qigong and different pedagogical concepts for action into the martial arts pedagogy. The method has been used successfully in areas such as kindergartens, children with behavioral disorders and in recreational areas.