Jiujitsu Session Grade 2

As part of their Unit of Inquiry (Who We Are) students were learning about how various
activities can be good for four different aspects of their Wellness (Social, Emotional,
Physical, Mental). The Grade 2 team was discussing the idea of introducing an activity that
would be new, interactive, and fun for the students and that would help them better
understand the multiple sides of their wellness. Ms Annie trains Jiu jitsu multiple times a
week and organized to run an introductory session for the Grade 2 students.

Jiu jitsu is a form of martial art focused on self defense. Aside from the health benefits of
physical exercise it has been shown to have multiple other benefits for young practitioners. It
is great to help develop problem solving skills and sharpen the mind. When learning a new
move or position students have to follow instructions to complete the move on their training
partner, then, have the move completed on them. To better understand how to follow through
with a move, students have to connect it to things they already know. Like many martial arts,
jiu jitsu teaches discipline. Students need to be calm and focused to succeed. They need to
pay attention and respect the instructor as well as be dedicated to coming to the classes. The
social environment also helps develop social skills. Once you step on the mat in a jiu jitsu
class you are all equal no matter what. We are all there to learn. Students learn to work with
their training partners and build trusting relationships.

Ms Annie coordinated the activity with another jiujitsu practitioner in the school (Mr Ogley)
to run the 1 hour session with all four of the Grade 2 classes. The session looked something
like this for each class:

-Introduction of the instructors and explanation of jiujitsu

-Warm up with stretches and body movements

-Game of "crab tag". Students will walk/run around like a crab and try to tag their friends
until everyone has been caught.

-Move like animals. Examples: crawl like an alligator, jump like a frog, slither like a snake,
etc.

-Practice rolling: forward rolls, backward rolls, cartwheels.

-Introduction of the hip-bump sweep (how to safely move a person off of you): Students
watched and listened to the instructors on how to perform the move. They partnered up with a
friend and in small groups worked with Ms Annie, Mark Ogley, and their homeroom teachers
and TAs to practice the move with their friend.

-Cool/Calm down with circle discussion of how jiu jitsu is good for our wellness. Thank
instructors.

-Group photo

We were so impressed with how much the students were able to do! We saw students be risk
takers by trying new moves they thought were scary, care for their training partners by doing
the move without hurting each other, ask the instructors questions, and more. During the
discussion they were able to talk about how jiu jitsu helped them will each part of their
wellness. Students gave answers like: “It’s good for my Physical Wellness because we are
doing exercise and moving our bodies”, “It’s good for our Social Wellness because we are
doing it with our friends, because we know how to protect ourselves and not get hurt”, “It’s
good for our Emotional Wellness because we are happy, excited, etc”, “It’s good for our
Mental Wellness because we are learning how to do the move.”.

This was an extremely successful event and we hope to be able to do it again next year as part
of the Wellness unit with grade 2!