American Cougar Martial Arts
Cougar Cubs Information
Parents, Welcome to the Cougar Cubs Program! In any activity, there are many things for everyone to understand. Please take a few minutes and read this section completely and always feel free to ask the Head Instructor or any of the assistants questions. I believe the study of the Martial Arts is very different from the traditional sports activities in the United States such as football and basketball. Because of this difference, it is important for parents to understand the issues and always ask questions. Many people find it difficult to ask, but it is important to have your questions answered. If you find it difficult getting an opportunity to ask during class, you are always welcome to call me.
We have a great group of women assistants that help teach the Cougar Cubs class. These assistants and the school manager are all volunteers! They take many hours of their own time to help the students. This is a fantastic opportunity for your children. It enables us to have a larger class, yet keep the Instructor to Student ratio low. Because they are volunteers, I expect students and parents to treat them with respect.
Some people wonder if our Recreation Department classes are a "real martial arts" program. We offer a comprehensive program and award nationally recognized rank. Mr. Thompson takes classes with some of the world's leading martial artists and provides a unique mixture of traditional basics and modern defensive tactics.
Sometimes parents wonder why their son or daughter is not corrected every time they make a mistake or do something poorly. Although it may look easy, martial arts techniques take years of practice to perform correctly. There are many things to learn and constant correction of a young child (or an adult) leads to frustration and a lack of confidence! We want to work hard but have fun too! Our approach is to correct a little at a time. When a student first starts, we make "minor suggestions", provide positive encouragement and give them time to feel comfortable in class. If you do not agree with this method, you should try another school and see if they have the type of Instruction you prefer.
It is very important not to compare your son or daughter to the other kids in class. Some parents enroll their children in martial arts class to help with motor skills or because their child does not like or practice other sports. Everyone is different and each must learn at their own pace. One of the great things about a larger class is that the students do not feel like everyone is watching them. In addition, they actually can learn from one another and they see many different ability levels. We offer inexpensive private lessons to school members if you would like your child to work on specific topics or advance in rank faster.
Testing for belts in class is often a source of misunderstanding and "competition" between younger students. It is also a source of frustration for Instructors. Our promotions are based on time and skill. The students must attend a minimum number of classes. We have had a few cases where a student that rarely come to class gets angry or cries because they did not test and get a promotion with other students they know. Usually that other student has great attendance. Attendance is taken at the beginning of every class. When a student has sufficient classes, the assistants check to see if they know the material. If they need additional work, they stay at that level until they learn the material. Even if two students have the same attendance, one may learn the material faster. This is a very difficult concept for younger children. Only the Instructor is qualified to make testing decisions. Please note that Cougar Cubs ranks up to Blue Belt have "step" belts and four progress stripes that are not in the youth program.
You may find students achieve rank faster at other schools. There are many different factors between schools and you cannot simply compare times. Larger schools have more classes per week for a student to attend, different belt structures, and they may permit a faster progression to maintain student interest. In martial arts competitions, our students have always performed as well as students from large commercial schools!
Uniforms and equipment are difficult to explain. Students can just take classes for fun, but most elect to join the American Cougar Martial Arts School. When you join the school and start to test for belts (rank), you must purchase a uniform. We have found that students this age want to have a uniform ... it is part of the fun. Safety equipment for sparring is needed. Our sparring is light contact. Light contact with safety gear makes sparring a safe, fun, and a great work-out.
Many parents want to know if their son/daughter needs to get back on the waiting list if they drop out of classes for other activities such as baseball or soccer. Yes, we do not "hold slots open". This is unfair to students on our large waiting list. The slots are filled. However, previous students have priority when there is a future opening.
Parents are always welcome to watch class and students are proud of their accomplishments. Also, I appreciate the parents helping kids put on equipment.
Smaller children often do not understand verbal instructions on how to correct a technique. In these cases, I ask the student to hold on to me while I take their arm or leg through the proper motion. If you have any concerns with this type of instruction, please watch the class and ask questions.
Unlike many traditional U.S. sports, martial arts are practiced year-round. Students must pass a test to get a promotion. It takes a high level of dedication and interest from the student along with support and encouragement from their parents. As a student progresses higher in rank, more is expected from them. Most students only study the martial arts for a short time because of these factors. However, our youth need a long term alternative to the culture of high fat foods and long hours of television and video games.
One last item, parents must come into the gym to get your child. The Cougar Cubs are not allowed to leave the gym without a parent. No exceptions.
Any questions, please ask.
John (Mr. Thompson)
