Offering children confidence

Kruger, who launched House of Tinkerbell Kick Boxing and MMA Academy early this year, started a bully-proof class in March this year on the back of 13 successful years in Boksburg.
“These classes are about giving the children confidence.
“My aim is not to teach them to fight but to give them confidence so they are not targeted by bullies.”
The class encourages young children to develop body awareness, core strength and become more confident in a holistic setting.
He is assisted by fellow trainers Marcel Els and Tumisang Madiba who together set the tone for a fun environment where children are taught various martial arts techniques through a series of short games.
With three trainers watching over the students, every child receives individual attention and great care is taken to make the session enjoyable, instructional and above all, safe.
After a thorough warm up, the children gather around JP who demonstrates each exercise carefully, explaining the correct techniques and movements to be used in an effort to ensure, as far as possible, that the children do not hurt themselves.
JP comments that, working with young children, the use of martial arts techniques helps them develop their balance, and offers body and muscle development which sets them up to be better (physically) functioning, healthier individuals.
One mother who is very happy with the environment and practices is Roché van der Sandt.
Her son Emmett (3), JP’s youngest student, has been honing his skills for the past four months.

She says that Emmett absolutely loves it and she appreciates the way the trainers work with her son, adding that even the motto – “Every punch, kick, breath and submission to glorify Jesus,” – is a positive affirmation of the work JP and his trainers are doing with the children.
“This is a great way for him to release all that excess energy. JP has a really good thing going with the kids and Emmett loves coming to classes,” she says.
JP adds that Emmett has learnt so much in the past four months and is doing very well despite being the youngest in the class.
The classes are run on Tuesday and Thursday and cater for children in Grade One to Grade Five, although there are exceptions made for younger children.
However, with classes exceeding 20 and, according to Kruger, growing every week, the classes will soon be split into two age groups – Grade Nought (or five years) to Grade Two, in an earlier time slot, and Grade Three to Grade Seven
“On Tuesdays we concentrate on striking, using kickboxing and muay thai moves, and on Thursday we practice our no gi grappling like wrestling,” Kruger says.

Take a look at some of JP’s other students in action.