This week I took my 4 year old along to try a really different type of children’s class – Defence Lab. They run children’s self defence classes and adults martial arts and self defence in Goole and Hull. The Hull children’s class is currently on Thursdays at 5.15pm at Total Fitness Gym in Willerby but they are looking to expand to more venues in Hull. The class is suitable for 4 to 12 year olds and lasted an hour.
I had no idea what to expect but it was such a friendly group and I was made to feel really welcome. The classes were set up by Paul, a world class children’s instructor, to teach self defence to local children. The class we attended was led by instructor Chris and his assistant Andy who were both amazing with my little boy, getting him to join in straight away. I sat with him for the warm up then he didn’t even notice me sneak off to sit on the chairs at the side to watch as he was so absorbed in it!
They covered a range of different self defence techniques through various games and play. They were taught great listening and self awareness skills by moving and stopping to do different things. The 2 instructors then approached each child and they had to get into a defence position, covering their heads with their forearms. They then got to shout and scream as loud as possible to scare off the ‘attacker’ instructor! In another game they laid on their backs balancing a glove on their tummies, when the instructors approached they ha
d to roll over into a defence position and protect their glove from being taken. Another game was walking quietly past the ‘crocodile’ instructors without them being able to grab them. They then put on soft gloves and learned some moves to attack back by punching the pads the instructors wore.
I could see through each game how the children were learning how to respond if anyone was attacking them, although my little boy just thought he was having a fun. I truly hope my little boy never needs to use what he has learned but I feel a little safer knowing that he would know how to defend himself if the worse happened. I could see how it would also be great to develop confidence and also for general fitness, my little boy was sweating loads during it!
At the end of the class my little boy didn’t want to leave and said he’s had loads of fun. I asked him what he liked best and he said ‘being able to shout and scream as loud as he could’ (probably because I spend a lot of my time at home saying stop being so loud!).
I think Paul and Chris have set up a really unique, fun class that’s teaching children some very valuable skills. If you want to find out more they’re listed on the Weekly Classes section of Mumbler here
or you can check out their website here or facebook page here,
or call them on 0800 772 0854
