Martial arts classes can be intimidating and overwhelming for new students. You’re walking into a room with strangers, trying to figure out where to stand and what to do while everyone else just seems so comfortable. It’s easy to feel like you’re an outsider, or even worse: unsafe! But don’t worry—your martial arts instructor has probably thought about this stuff before you even started taking classes. And if they haven’t, then it’s time that they did! Here are some ways you can make sure that your martial arts class is safe and fun for everyone involved:
Make sure you have the right gear
- You should always ensure that your students are using the appropriate gear. In martial arts, this means that their safety equipment should be appropriate for the activity in which they are engaging. If a student is practicing tumbling, they need quality mats to cushion their falls and prevent injury. If a student is sparring with a partner, they need headgear to protect them from blows to the head while allowing them to see clearly so they can avoid being hit by an opponent.
- Make sure all your equipment is in good condition and fits properly before allowing students to use it. A loose chin strap can allow someone’s helmet or headgear to fly off during impact with another person; missing padding on hand wraps will let injuries occur when contact is made with an opponent’s fists; ill-fitting sparring gloves will not protect both hands as well as two pairs of well-fitting gloves would protect each hand individually.
- Always make sure that everyone involved understands how each piece of safety equipment works before letting them use it during class sessions or competitions.
Assess the risks regularly
You should review the risks regularly, both to stay on top of any changes that might be needed and to ensure that you are keeping up with regulations.
After an incident, it’s a good idea to assess whether any of your policies need updating. For example, if a student has suffered an injury during training, you may want to consider adding extra padding in certain areas or implementing other safety measures.
If there are any changes to your class (e.g., more students or less space), then it would be wise for you as an instructor to review the risk assessment again before starting anew. This is especially true if students have increased in number; additional staff members may be able to help manage them better than one person alone can do so.
Warmups to prevent injury
The importance of warming up before training cannot be overstated. Warming up will help prevent injuries during your workout, improve performance and prevent you from having to stop mid-session due to fatigue or injury.
Before each class, take time to do some light jogging or calisthenics such as jumping jacks, push-ups and crunches. This will get your blood flowing and get your muscles ready for action. If you already have an existing injury or medical condition (such as a bad back), talk with your doctor about what exercises are safe for you before training begins so that you don’t cause further damage by overdoing it in class!
Warm up routines should last more than 5 minutes but less than 15 minutes depending on how often they’re done per week.
Procedures in place to safeguard when teaching children
- When teaching children, make sure you know the child’s background.
- Always have a parent or guardian present.
- If the student has special needs, such as physical disabilities or behavioral issues, have procedures in place to safeguard them from harm.
- Check your student’s technique regularly and ensure they are practicing correctly. Make sure you have an established policy for students who need help with learning new techniques: regular training can be exhausting for some young minds, so it is important to make sure everyone is safe and having fun during class time!
- Look into your students’ backgrounds to get an idea of any behavioural issues that may arise.
Keep in mind that students can be very sensitive to criticism, so it’s important to make sure they know you are only trying to help them. If a child is having trouble with a certain skill or concept, try breaking it down into smaller steps and focusing on one at a time.
Get first aid & CPR training
Another important part of protecting your students is providing them with first aid training. First aid is the care given to someone who has been injured or becomes ill, either through an accident or because of a medical condition. CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), which helps provide life support by keeping blood flowing to the brain and vital organs, is one important form of first aid that every martial arts instructor should be able to perform.
Many instructors already know how to perform CPR; if you don’t, consider taking a course at your local YMCA or community college so that you can feel confident in your ability to save lives if necessary.
Keep your martial arts classes safe
Martial arts are a great way to get in shape, learn self-defense and build confidence. But it’s also important to make sure your students are safe when they’re practicing. The tips we’ve given you above can help keep injuries down and make the experience more enjoyable for everyone involved. Contact us for more information on how to keep your martial arts club safe, as well as any insurance policies that you may need.
Competing in a martial art? Read our blog “Keeping Safety in Mind When Competing in Martial Arts.”