“My child is already hitting in the playground. Why would I want them learning martial arts?”
I understand the concern. You want the hitting to stop. Teaching your child more physical skills might feel completely counterintuitive.
But here is why I believe the body belongs in that learning.
When we ask children to control their bodies, we also need to give them opportunities to learn how.
“Keep your hands to yourself” tells a child what we expect. The next question is: how do we help them practise it when they feel frustrated, challenged or overwhelmed?
At MultiRay, we use carefully guided movement and partner activities to explore exactly that.
Can you feel when you’re pushing too hard?
Can you adjust your pressure so your partner feels safe?
Can you stop when they say stop—even when you’re excited?
Can you notice frustration building, step back and try again?
These are physical experiences of awareness, boundaries and choice. They give us opportunities to practise the self-control we’re asking children to use elsewhere.
This is why I believe movement deserves a place alongside conversations about feelings and behaviour. We can explain an idea, explore it through the body and reflect on what happened.
Of course, stopping in class doesn’t automatically mean a child can stop in a difficult playground moment. Helping them make that connection takes time, support and an understanding of what is happening at school.
But we can give them somewhere to begin.
A safe place to use their strength. Clear boundaries. Support to notice their reactions. And repeated opportunities to choose what happens next.
That is the purpose of the physical practice at MultiRay.
If this sounds familiar, you’re welcome to come and see how we work at MultiRay in Mosman. Let’s talk about what your child is finding difficult and whether our approach could be a good fit.