The Energy of the class

Mastering the Energy of the Room: The Heartbeat of Every Kids’ Class

When teaching children self-defense, your energy becomes the class’s energy. From the moment they walk in, kids are looking to you for cues—how to act, how to feel, and how engaged they should be. That’s why understanding how to create, maintain, and manage the energy of the room is just as important as knowing the techniques you’re teaching.

In this section, we’ll explore how to use movement, body language, vocal control, and creative drills to keep the room alive, focused, and fun. You'll learn strategies to:

• Keep kids physically and mentally stimulated through dynamic motion
• Use your own body language and voice to inspire attention and enthusiasm
• Design drills that are short, sharp, and high-energy (without losing control)
• Balance energy with calm using “Peak and Prep” cycles
• Inject excitement with friendly competition and game-based learning

These tools help transform your class into an engaging, focused, and disciplined experience—one where kids feel excited to participate, motivated to improve, and proud of their effort.

Remember: enthusiasm is caught, not taught! If you bring it, they’ll bring it. And when you learn to control the flow of energy in the room, you can lead any group—no matter how distracted or high-energy—to a strong, focused, and successful class.

ENERGY - Maintaining and controlling the energy of the room and the children is paramount for creating a dynamic and engaging self-defense session. Here's how you can achieve this:

Motion - Motion creates emotion. Use motion to your advantage by incorporating dynamic activities that require children to sit, stand, move around, and change direction frequently. This helps to keep their energy levels up and prevents boredom or restlessness. For example, organize drills that involve running to different positions, changing partners, or practicing techniques in various locations within the room. Movement stimulates circulation, increases alertness, and enhances overall participation.

Body Language - Your body language sets the tone for the session and influences the behavior of the children. Stay animated, enthusiastic, and physically engaged to inspire energy and enthusiasm in the room. When you're up and active, the children are more likely to follow suit and stay engaged in the activities. Use gestures, facial expressions, and positive body language to convey enthusiasm and encouragement, creating a welcoming and motivating atmosphere.

Voice - Your voice is a powerful tool for commanding attention, conveying information, and maintaining engagement. Vary your tonality, pitch, cadence, and volume to capture children's interest and maintain their focus throughout the session. Use a lively and animated voice to inject excitement into the drills and activities, and employ pauses strategically to build anticipation and emphasize key points. Speak clearly and confidently, ensuring that every child can hear and understand your instructions effectively.

Drills - Keep drills energetic, but focused, to sustain the children's interest and maximize participation. Avoid overly long or repetitive drills that may lead to boredom or fatigue. Instead, design drills that are challenging, interactive, and varied to keep children actively involved and motivated to participate. Incorporate elements of fun, competition, and teamwork to make the drills engaging and enjoyable for all participants.

Class Energy - Peak and Prep - Monitor the energy level of the class and adjust your teaching approach accordingly to maintain an optimal level of engagement and enthusiasm. Build momentum gradually throughout the session, starting with warm-up activities to prepare the children physically and mentally for the more intensive drills and techniques. As the class progresses, encourage children to push themselves and strive for improvement, while also providing opportunities for brief breaks and relaxation to prevent burnout.

Make things into a game or friendly competition - Introduce elements of gamification and friendly competition to enhance excitement and motivation among the children. Turn drills into games, challenges, or races where children can earn points, rewards, or recognition for their efforts and achievements. Incorporate team-based activities or partner exercises to foster collaboration, communication, and camaraderie among the children. By making learning fun and interactive, you can ignite their passion for self-defense and inspire them to actively participate and excel in the session.