The children gather in a circle around Coach Rob Mein, as he stands tall above them, voice loud and sharp, and begins to list the zero tolerance of horseplay.
“Every time there has been an injury, it has been because kids fooling around” he said, “If there is a problem we will work out so hard until you are in severe pain.”
The intense words lingered in the air, and the children became still, clearly focused. The stillness was followed by a series of rigorous workouts that push each child to their limit On Tuesday afternoon at the Canadian Martial Arts Centre, a children’s class – The Little Dragon’s are involved in heavy MMA training. It’s not what the average person would expect when walking into a martial arts training centre.
Fighting and rolling around tirelessly on the black mats beneath, they are watched closely by their greatest fans—their parents.
“What is a better way than to discipline them in here,” said parent Maged Hammo.
Hammo currently has three children enrolled in MMA classes. It has become a healthy family activity for them, and many other families here in Lethbridge. Discipline has become a common theme. Parents have brought children who had problems at home and focusing at school. Most parents have become very happy with the results
Training can start at age four. It is a young generation of fighters learning not only how to fight; but the values of discipline, hard work and self-control.
Although it is not the only objective, discipline is the most common theme amongst parents bringing their children to classes. Hammo can already see a difference. “They’re attitude has changed, there’s no more yelling [at home] and they listen and do what they are told,” he said.
“Parents will have behaviour issues with the child and bring them come to class. If I see an issue, I call the kid on it, I hold them accountable and there’s a consequence—now you’re doing push-ups” said coach Mein. Parents, such as Renee Beauregard hopes get the energy out of her son, and physical fitness for her four-year-old daughter. Her daughter ran back and forth smiling happily throughout the class. “I bring them here for discipline, my son wanted to fight and punch, so I thought it was a good idea,” said Beauregard,
“I also came here because they accept children at just four years old.” There is no evidence to suggest that martial arts will lead to fighting in the future. For some children the experience of getting beat by another at the gym is a learning experience.
“That humbling experience of coming to the gym, training and getting beat everyday, it does teach most kids that fighting is reserved for those very very rare occasion when you need to defend yourself.” said Mein.
Building these qualities, accompanied with learning self-defence, has become popular amongst families in Lethbridge. The numerous programs—judo, karate and taekwondo around the community, are filling quickly.
The Canadian Martial Arts Centre holds Little Dragons classes for children ages four to six every Monday and Wednesday evening. Youth classes are held Tuesday and Thursday evening. Free classes are offered for first timers. They strive to instil habits of success in children of all ages with their safe and healthy programs.