The Difference
Between Recreational Classes and Performance Teams
Both recreational and Performance Kung Fu programs promote skills, strength, flexibility, endurance, confidence, fitness and fun. While recreational (non-competitive) programs are fitting for anyone, performance programs usually require an invitation to join after being evaluated by a qualified coach.
What Do Coaches Look For When Inviting Kids To Team?
When considering a child for a Performance/Demo team program, coaches look for the following traits:
- Physical Strength – Can the child easily perform strength exercises such as pull-ups, leg lifts, sprinting, push-ups, sit-ups, and hollow body holds?
- Flexibility – Is the child’s body flexible enough to handle some of the requirements of Kung Fu? Can his/her flexibility be improved over time?
- Basic Skills – How are the child’s Kung Fu fundamentals? Has the child spent enough time in a class or pre-team program to master the basics? Can the child perform the basics properly? Does the child know proper Kung Fu terminology?
- Motivation – Does the child want to learn and succeed, or is she content right where she is?
- Coachability – Does the child have the capacity to listen and follow instructions, observe and replicate Kung Fu movements emulating his/her coaches? Is the child a quick learner with the ability to focus, memorize, and remember drills/routines/forms in Kung Fu? Does the child listen to corrections and try to apply them? Is the child willing to take a few steps back to fix old skills before learning new skills? Does the child exhibit some sense of self-control?
- Mental Toughness – How sensitive is the child? Does he or she respond well to criticism? Would the child be able to perform in front of a judge and receive a performance-based score with no more than a healthy amount of anxiety? When the going gets tough, does the child persist, stick it out and push through, or break down and give up? (Some kids, after several tryout sessions, have decided not to pursue, since they can’t handle the grueling conditioning or the physical and mental pain and discomfort of intensive training)
- Sportsmanship – Would this child fit in with existing team members? Would he or she encourage the other athletes? Would this child accept both success and defeat respectfully and graciously?
No. Demo Team students do not receive better training than class students, but the majority of the time, they do receive MORE training. Most Demo Team students are required to train a minimum of 4 hours a week, while class students often only come 2 or 3 hours a week. The extra training time allows team coaches to focus on extra conditioning and the smallest of details in every Kung Fu skill.
No. Both recreational and competitive students follow the same curriculum and skill progression set forth by Kungfu Dragon USA. Demo Team students who have learned impressively difficult skills have done so after committing themselves to a school team program for several years and putting in countless hours of training time in a more accelerated program.
All class students have the opportunity to learn the same skills as students on our teams, but must do so while following the proper skill progression. With any students, safety is always the number one priority. Class coaches take into consideration a child’s strength, flexibility, and mental readiness before beginning to teach a new, more difficult skill.
No. In fact, many Demo Team students who are well-trained, strong, and appear to have all of their skills will often repeat a level in order to improve their fundamentals before moving on to the next level. Kungfu Dragon USA provides a set of requirements for each competitive level. Many Demo Team students compete successfully for an entire season while missing just one small requirement. It is very common to see a competitive athlete repeat more than one level in order to meet every requirement and achieve a great amount of success.
Class students have a bit more flexibility in this matter; class coaches will often forgive a certain skill or two a child may struggle with and promote her to the next level in order to maximize her potential in a smaller amount of time.
- Commitment – Kung Fu is a sport that requires a team member’s presence for every minute of scheduled training time. Team members are expected to attend all practices, competitions, fundraisers, and other team events. Team members are expected to arrive on time and prepared to train (hair up, Kung Fu attire on, weapons, water bottle, etc.). While being on a Kung Fu team is fun, it is not a social hour and is not something you show up for when you have nothing else to do… If a child is not willing to commit to the requirements of their team, it is best to consider other options, such as the class program, camps, or private lessons.
- Proper Health & Nutrition – An athlete cannot train or perform to the best of their abilities without proper nutrition. All team athletes are expected to eat a well-balanced diet and stay hydrated in order to keep their bodies in the best physical shape possible.
- Attitude – Demo Team students are expected to have a good attitude towards themselves, their teammates and their coaches. They need to accept criticism in order to improve, and they need to encourage their teammates to be the best they can be.
- Family Commitment – Kung Fu requires a strong family commitment, in the form of transportation, financial assistance, nutritional advice, fundraising, support at competitions, and mental support throughout training. Busy families are encouraged to share contact info to arrange carpools, child-care, etc. to ensure their martial art athlete is able to be where he or she needs to be at the right time.
- Finances – It’s the part no one wants to think about, but we want to be honest with you. Being on a Kung Fu team can be costly. On top of monthly tuition, you need to consider the price of competition uniforms, supplemental lessons, competition entry fees, and travel fees.
Many Demo Team students have already decided that Kung Fu will be their life. They want to train through elementary and junior high school. They want to compete in high school and college. Because of their years of commitment and dedication, and more than anything else, the amount of hours they spend training, they generally tend to rise to higher levels and learn harder skills. They are up to the challenge and enjoy a great sense of self accomplishment and empowerment. The values taught and gained will be far more valuable than any award; values such as sportsmanship, honor, integrity, fitness, hard work, and team work.
Many class Kung Fu students that are not as committed, and maybe only want to take Kung Fu once or twice a week for a year or two. They may want to play other sports, and dance, and act, and sing, and travel… That’s OK! Kung Fu can be fun for anyone, regardless of their natural talent or level of commitment. No matter what level, our class and team programs are designed to provide each and every child with a unique experience that is both fun and rewarding!