Playtime challenges are a proven brain booster and when your child learns to play rough and tumble (safely) they can build deeper connections with each other and family.

Panda Jitsu is basically martial arts-based fun & games for 3s, 4s, 5s & 6s.

This is real martial arts fundamentals sneakily hidden in fun games, specially designed for younger minds, delivered by qualified experienced martial arts experts.  

It’s fun, rough and tumble, and gets kids ready for real martial arts. 

If you want to give your child the best chance of being a successful adult, promote high levels of self-esteem and self-worth. That’s how we do it in martial arts! 

Starting young ones early in martial art thinking means they'll end up stronger more confident and able to handle a broader range of adverse situations and in the short term they'll learn some protective behaviours and reflexes. We broach sensitive subjects such as stranger danger, bullying, and abduction in ways that will eventually give your children skills they need but won't cause undue anxieties. 

Inner Circle Panda Jitsu program is based entirely on gameplay. This has been proven to be the absolute best way to engage children learners and build quality skills. Panda Jitsu games have been designed, delivered, refined and perfected by properly qualified instructors, accredited coaches, and professional educators with year upon year of successes. 

 

Is your child ready?

We can accommodate learners up to 7 years of age in this group depending on circumstances.

We have tried 2 & 2.5 and 2.9 years of age in this group and it is too hard for them. Sorry.

Wait until they are at least 3. Even then you may need t support them. (we can show you how)

Your child needs to be on their verbal milestones and able to body copy. If you’d like to learn more about the stages of development we look for you can learn more about it here:  Panda Theory 

 

Behaviour Expectations

When Pandas do activities that resemble martial arts, their technique usually starts off completely wrong.  Parent are often concerned about this however, we deliberately do not try to prefect technique for every child in every session. We use a high spot method and correct fractional technique error over time.  Incorrect technique is not rewarded not even recognised, but improvements are. This age group children are notoriously difficult when it comes to self-discipline.  Don’t worry. We got this! 

We use simple instructions, “see and do” learning and peer group pressure to help ease little ones into good behaviours. 

We generally ignore moderate poor behaviours and reward compliance.  We’ll occasionally use gruff or loud noises but this is less for discipline than it is for desensitisation to aggressive environments.

You can learn more about it here:  Behaviour Expectations

 

A note of warning.

Not all pre 6-year-old programs are the same,

Whilst Inner Circle self-defence and martial arts programs are usually conceptually and physically too difficult for most prep & pre-prep aged children, Inner Circle Academy Panda Jitsu is a proven and practical alternative. 

 

Some schools happily teach 3, 4 & 5 year olds martial art and to be frank, some martial arts styles are simplistic enough for this to look like it's working.  I can sure you that it is not. Children at this age learn very differently and primarily through game play. I have personally witnessed  many highly ranked and otherwise successful instructors fail horribly at trying to teach a 5-year-old such things as how to do simple straight punch correctly.

 

This age children's mental and physical development is not advanced enough to succeed at many of these types of martial art tasks.  I have seen other instructors that play games with their younger students but with no practical outcome in mind.  And it gets worse. A  child at this young age and stage of development needs constant reinforcements otherwise they get bored & tired. We all know where that trail ends. 

Poorly trained instructors often praise 'partial' success incorrectly to keep kids motivated and engaged.  This leads to very bad martial arts habits which are not only ineffective but gives the child a false sense of security. 

 

Panda Jitsu is expertly crafted

Inner Circle Panda Jitsu program is based entirely on game play. This has been proven to be the absolute best way to engage children learners and build quality skills. Panda Jitsu games have been deigned, delivered, refined and perfected by properly qualified instructors, accredited coaches and professional educators with year upon year of successes.   

During the session, you will meet some of our Panda Helpers who have started their own martial arts journey through this program and you can judge for yourself its effectiveness.

Sessions are 45 minutes comprised of 5 x 5 minute martial art based games with some lead in time, wrap up time and breaks included. There is still a bit of rough and tumble.  It is a precursor martial art after all and without physical contact it is virtually useless for its primary purpose.  

Class sizes are limited. The average class size is aimed at 8 students.

 

Where too next?

When the student is ready or when they are old enough, they can advance to the next class up (Dragon Cubs).  In this rank there are gradings however the student should have amassed enough skills to attempt the grading just like every other martial artist.

 

Try it out!  No need to book.  Just turn up

Bring water, a learning attitude and $5 per session. 

Wait at the sign in desk and someone will notice you are new and help you get started

Uniforms consist of a plain white t-shirt plus longer than knee length, non-restrictive black pants, but for your fist goes, don’t worry too much about colours, knees and shoulders covered is the main consideration. 

Panda Jitsu  (all dojos) :   5:30 - 6:15    $5 per session

 

Tuesdays

Caboolture Memorial Hall, 61 King St