| Failure to develop and refine fundamental and | | | | of life. Keeping It Fun |
| specialized movement skills such as hopping, leaping, | | | | Making the Wushu classes fun by using creative |
| running, striking, and throwing during the crucial | | | | game-based concept doesn't mean it is easier and |
| preschool and elementary school years often leads | | | | less intensive. In fact, the reverse is true as fun and |
| children to frustration and failure during adolescence | | | | enjoyment often prove to be a more intrinsic |
| and adulthood. Failure to develop mature patterns of | | | | motivating factor which pushes the children wanting |
| throwing, catching, and jumping, for instance, makes | | | | to do their best in a positive learning environment. |
| it difficult for children to succeed in and enjoy even a | | | | "In order to engage children to be more actively |
| recreational game of basketball. Children fail to | | | | participating in Wushu as a sport, we have modified |
| participate, with success, in an activity if they have | | | | our training program by including more game-based |
| not been taught and given the opportunity to | | | | circuit training to replace the traditional Wushu drills |
| practice and master the essential movement skills | | | | which often seem boring into something which is |
| contained within that activity. | | | | more fun and challenging" comments Diana Ng, senior |
| Saying all this, it does not mean that if you don't | | | | Wushu coach who has years of experience in |
| learn all the fundamental movement skills during | | | | coaching with thousands of children. |
| childhood you cannot develop them later in life. But it | | | | Understanding what the children like to play in their |
| is often easiest to develop these skills during | | | | leisure time is also important in considering the various |
| childhood. It is highly possible that if a person does | | | | games which to be implemented into our Wushu |
| not develop the skills early, they too often remain | | | | games play, where we have seen an increase in |
| unlearned. | | | | having more children who continue learning Wushu for |
| There are several factors which contribute to this | | | | a longer duration and able to sustain their interest. |
| situation. One is an accumulation of poor habits from | | | | "The children often look forward to coming for every |
| improper learning. It is much more difficult to "unlearn" | | | | Wushu classes. Many of our Wushu students who |
| faulty movements than to learn to do them correctly | | | | just started with us were not very well coordinated |
| in the first place. Self-consciousness and | | | | with their movements, but after 6 months of Wushu |
| embarrassment are a second factor. "I have no | | | | training, there is a vast improvement in their overall |
| sense of direction". "I can't do it", and "my hands and | | | | body movement coordinations", added Coach Diana |
| legs are not coordinating" are some of the common | | | | Lastly, words of encouragement and positive |
| self-derogatory sentences that children may use to | | | | affirmation such as "well done", "keep it up", "that |
| comment on their poor performance which lead to | | | | was a very good kick", "powerful punches" often |
| their reluctance and resistance to become active | | | | keeps the children motivated and feel good about |
| participants in sports. The third factor is fear where | | | | themselves, which in turn boost their self-confidence. |
| they have fear and anxiety about getting injured and | | | | References |
| of being ridiculed by their friends are very | | | | Aidan P. Moran, (2004) Sport and Exercise |
| psychological factors that often contribute | | | | Psychology: A Critical Introduction United States |
| significantly to difficulty in learning movement skills | | | | Arthur E. Chapman, (2008) Biomechanical Analysis of |
| later in life. This will also increase their chances of | | | | Fundamental Human Movements Human Kinetics |
| leading a sedentary lifestyle when they reach | | | | United States |
| adulthood. Thus, it is vital for children to fully develop | | | | Bompa, T.O., (1983) Theory and Methodology of |
| their fundamental movement abilities and a variety of | | | | Training:The Key to Athletic Performance Kendall |
| basic sport skills as early as possible (Gallahue, David | | | | Hunt Pub. Co. (Dubuque, Iowa) |
| L. and Frances Cleland Donnelly, 2003). Using Wushu | | | | Brown. S. P, (2001) Introduction to Exercise Science |
| As A Sport To Develop Fundamental Movement Skills | | | | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins |
| While there are many sports available to developing | | | | Fred Foxon, (1999) Improving Practices and Skill |
| fundamental movement skills, Wushu remains a very | | | | (Illustrated Ed) Coachwise 1st4sport |
| unique and effective exercise to train the different | | | | Gallahue, D.L. and F.C. Donnelly (2003) Developmental |
| movement skills for children since it focus on mind | | | | Physical Education for All Children. |
| and body exercise that also focus on character | | | | Gerry Carr, (2004) Sport Mechanics for Coaches (2nd |
| building that instill self-discipline. | | | | Ed) Human Kinetics United States |
| The Wushu exercise helps to develop the | | | | Grimshaw, P. et al., (2007) Sports & Exercise |
| coordination, synchronization of the whole body | | | | Biomechanics Taylor & Francis Group New York |
| movements in all direction which is very useful and | | | | Kennedy, C.A. and M.M. Yoke (2004) Methods of |
| help in enhancing quality of daily physical activities. | | | | Group Exercise Instruction. |
| Building a strong foundation in fundamental | | | | Richard H. Cox, (2002) Sport Psychology : Concepts |
| movement skills and correct posture alignment also | | | | and Applications (5th Ed) McGraw Hill New York |
| reduces the chances for musculoskeletal problems | | | | Susan, J.H. |
| such as low back pain and scoliosis in their later stage | | | | |