Kids "Brainworx" Trial Program

[Randell Waddell]

Description of Program for Kids and Parents.

We would like to invite you to be part of the first pilot BRAINWORX group that will be undertaking a series of activities, including physical exercises, predominately aimed at enabling students to extend their natural abilities and achieve closer to their potential. It aims to improve memory, concentration, physical co-ordination and academic skills. The invitation has been extended initially to 5 students from Years 8-10. You have been recommended to be part of this new program from staff.

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I know each of these kids quite well. Although a couple of them get themselves in trouble at times, each is a great kid and a bit of a "ratbag" (which in Australian slang probably parallels American "likeable larrikan").
The kids also know that once they get their heads and body around the material, I am hoping they will then assist me in teaching the next larger wave of kids to do the program.

I believe in transparency and open doors in anything I do. Consequently, we will have a lot of visitors including School Admin and other teaching colleagues, School and outside based support people such as counsellors, health support personal etc visiting us at times to see what we are doing and how the kids are going.

The kids chosen are Ridge, Jesse, Danny, Mitch and Patrick.

Brent Thomas (Preservice PE Teacher) and Jerry King (School Guidance Officer ) joined in with myself.

Sessions will be approximately one hour long.

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Session #1 [21-04-04]

(i) Discussed program in general and how it relates to their brain/body maturation. Gave examples of various exercises and different success stories in past. (15 mins)

(ii) Intro to clubbells: Shape, sizes, weights, potential to do self and others big grief if not careful. Started work on Swinging to Order, catching the clubbell on dime in Order, getting a feel for the implement etc. (15 mins) [ Kids rated 4.5 and 4.5 .]

(iii) Warrior Wellness Beginner program. (35 mins) [ Kids rated 4.5 and 4.5. ]

(iv) Recap, questions, and evaluation of session.

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Once we get a bit of momentum going, I shall strive to get the kids to fill in the details themselves. Because of the professionalism of the forum and positive nature of feedback, I shall also encourage the kids' parents to log on and share the nature of our training and "tribe".

Cheers
Randell :D

[Dan Chomycia]

Randell,

Sounds like a great way to share CST people.
I can't wait to hear more!

[Scott Sonnon]

Randell,

Outstanding! Let us know if you need anything.

[Mike]

GREAT IDEA Randell!

[Randell Waddell]

We have had quite a few public holidays over our way on Mondays recently, on our "Brainworx" training day. The school replaced today's timetable with Monday's so we had a session.

The kids here today were Danny, Mitch, Ridge, Shane and Daniel. Patrick came down for his first session, but found it a bit confronting - we convinced him to stay, watch and then maybe join in later if he desired. He chose just to watch. Jessie wasn't at school again today.

(i) Started off with getting down onto one's back from standing position as per GTB. Basic spinal rocks on the gym mats. Some kids already bouncing back up. Introduced basic "Be Breathed" rock and kids started to work up some individual numbers. Put the kids into "Position of Assurance (?)." and showed them how the rock back on one side could feed into the rock forward on the other side with a flash side type kick helping to drive the whole process. ( The kids are of an age that if they can see an application such as a punch or a kick, they will train it for ages - unfortunately it is the exercises we want the kids to focus on, not how they can show off to everyone else being Bruce Lee's cousin, Ug Lee. The temptation is there to allow the approach to help drive the program, particularly as a couple of these kids have been bullied badly, but ........).

I've been working with a couple of the break-dancing kids ( which is big with the cool kids at school) on some new moves - they are stunned an old bloke like me thinks what they are doing is pretty cool, and, can teach them new moves. I showed these kids today a bit as well, and young Ridge is a natural - as long as he doesn't get too overconfident and snap his own neck off. It would be great for his confidence if he started to become as good as some of the "cool dudes" - he certainly has the potential to really do good stuff with our Bodyflow material. Shane and Daniel also show great promise.

(ii) Clubbells. Revisted the Rock-It Drill and basic "seesaw" motion teaching the kids how to move through the dip at the bottom part of the Swipe. Emphasis on butt back and down whilst the clubbells are pointed forward and backwards, and striving to keep the clubbell ends moving parallel to the floor as they track from both these positions. Swinging the clubbells to order and holding for four counts and repeating. Forward Presses and Torch Presses from this position also.
Taught the boys Armpit Cast, Head Cast and Shoulder Cast from a sword perspective - put the sword in a scabbard over your back, pull it out and cut out forward etc, etc. Again, they love the martial applications. These kids have a great sense of humour - when we were doing double head Cast, I suggested there was a couple of birds flying overhead that we chop out of the sky. Danny was chuckling away merrily - he envisioned a big duck or similar, flying through the air above his head, and he pulled the twin swords out and chopped both wings off, much to that bird's surprise as it rocketed onwards through the air minus its wings. Shared his "out there" visualization with the other kids and they were all having a great old laugh. ( These kids have a great ability to go really lateral, and their zany sense of humour is amazing - they can easily see and enjoy the ridiculous - bet they love Candid Camera too !!!)

I will have to discuss this Martial type approach with the Principlal and see how she feels about it - I don't want the parents or others to perceive the program as teaching the kids just some type of Martial Arts.

Scott, if you read this perhaps you might like to add your thoughts on utilizing this side with the kids, to keep them interested, as I believe you normally encourage people to strive to avoid possible applications and concentrate on the exercise.

...............................
Just had a chat to Helen, the Principal. We will consider a martial biase to carry along the momentum, as long as the kids don't get too silly or cause grief around the place. Hopefully, we may get some feedback from Scott and from you others out there on the forum, as to any disadvantages to using the kids interest in the Martial side, before we kick off again this Monday.

Cheers
Randell :D

[Randell Waddell]

Kids today include Jesse, Danny, Mitch, Ridge, Shane and Daniel. Patrick has opted to not become involved at this stage. Jesse had a bad day, and ln his next lesson, he got himself 10 days exclusion from the school for dangerous and abhorant behaviour.

Concentrated on Bodyflow today. Revised last session's Spinal Rocks and rolls. Introduced Vibration drills and arm threading/shoulder rolls. Put these into forward rolls where arm threading allows one to roll on shoulder.

Doesn't sound like much but it did take a while to loosen up the 4 shoulder joints and then get the wave travelling up throughout the shoulder girdle well. Using the analogy of dolphins rising and diving helped the kids lots. Kids were very pleasantly surprised when they put the arm threading/shoulder motion into their rolls.

Cheers
Randell :D

[Randell Waddell]

Kids today include Danny, Mitch, Ridge, Shane and Daniel.

Kids started work from "Position of Assurance" again. Highlighting the pistoning legs and loading torque into the body, when released, is what drives the next movements.

Did variation at end, where the leg closest to the centreline is brought around to the other knee, and one is then sitting in the meditation cross legged pose, with solar plexus lifting upwards at 45 degrees. We call this "Budda Position".

Considered including the arm threading and how this, in appropriate timing with the leg pistoning, easily carries us through the intermediate motions back to the other side's Budda Position. Kids getting very good.

Introduced the kids to the Leg Thread - laying on their stomach, tilting the hips at one side to form an arch at knee, and threading the other leg piston through that arch to flip one's body over and rotate around in a new direction. Kids like this one, and they have never seen the cool breakdancers do something like this.

Long Arm Roll Intro - from foot and other knee on mat, determining the triangle point and placing one's shoulder/scapula there using the helpful arm thread, the kids starting exploring the delights of our unique forward rolls. Have not got the kids to screw themselves over yet.

The kids are coming along really well, and most are starting to really focus, for much longer periods of time.

I let them know about their explorations being posted on a world forum and there are people all over, having a look at how they are developing - if any of you out there would consider penning some words of encouragement, I am sure it would be a huge buzz for them. I hope to log on at the end of next weeks' session and show them around. We may even be able to get them to start them posting their own sessions (really wishful thinking).

For those who have been following the kids evolution - thank you.

Cheers
Randell
:D

[rbibbs]

Hey Danny, Mitch, Ridge, Shane, Daniel (and sometimes Jesse and Patrick)-- it's good watching your progress.

This (web) group is worldwide. There are weightlifters, dancers, martial artists, teachers, coaches, physical therapists, doctors, furniture movers... just about everything. We all want to be healthy and we like doing 'amazing things' physically, like you are doing.

Randell and the other folks here, do a lot of research and learning about advanced physical training. We're glad to have you here too.

[Dan Chomycia]

Guys,

This is progress of the greatest kind!
I feel very privledged that it is shared with me!

We 'll be hearing from you soon!

[Randell Waddell]

Just Mitch, Ridge, Shane and Danny today.

Kids are going great !!!!!

They have stopped nearly all the stuffing around and we are really into it now.

Revised all of previous weeks' Bodyflow material.

Session finished with a Kinetic Chain which goes like this: (words chosen that work for them)
Standing, going to loo in bush, rock back into a few spinal rocks, cut into rocking through basic Positions of Assurance, extend to "Budda" a couple of times, rock into Shin Boxes, add Shin Rolls at end of each motion, add "glide back with palm down "as one rocks back during "Position of Assurance" change, and end up with gliding foot around to knee, allowing weight to shift until one is in a squat and spiral back up to standing to commence again.

Kids are getting good. Most tried this then on the gym lino floor without the mats, and found they were not as scared of the normal ground as they thought. Because they were being brave, I suggested they have a go at one of the scariest Bodyflow units - the Forward Spinal Wave - they ate it up and took great joy in the fact that they were not scared in the least.

I suggested that if they were getting cheeky we had better see who could pump out the most basic "Be Breathed". I pulled them up at 40 because I said I mightn't be able to pump out that many - of course I then did 41 but next week they declared they will be ready to blast out a lot more than that and I better start training if I want to beat them.

The little ratbags are feeling good.

One of the cool breakdancers then came in to see what the kids are doing. He wanted a hand with a sequence he is having trouble with - I suggested that he give me a couple of weeks and these kids can teach him - they loved that !!!!!!!

One the kids has lost more than 6 kgs without really trying and he showed his Dad a basic Leg Thread when he was sharing his activities with him. Apparently his Dad used that same move a couple of nights later, to his great surprise, when his work as security found him with some idiot surprising him and being on his carcase - apparently flipped the clown off much to everyone's surprise and got the situation under control without afore mentioned clown being seriously hurt. Great win-win for everyone, particularly for the son.

I was like an old proud grandfather today - very, very pleased with their progress.

Cheers
Randell
:D

[Scott Sonnon]

Great report, Randell!

[Dan Chomycia]

Sounds like your doing a world of good, and having a mountain of fun!
What a great Kinetic Chain that is!

[Randell Waddell]

Just Ridge, Danny, Shane and a new kid started called Callan. Danial and Mitch away crook today.

Kids are practising teaching Callan as they would like to start teaching some of their mates. We may start a morning tea break group on Tuesdays so their friends can come on board then.

The kids started teaching Callan and the School Nurse, Ms Anita also joined in for a while. "Big Al", the new school Chaplin also popped in to have a look.

Spent most of session improving our Kinetic Chain. Revisited Arm Screws and then practiced Long Arm Rolls. Had a competion to see who could do the most rolls, of any type, in any direction, in a minute. Kids all pumped out 50+ "Be Breathed"s. Checked out the kids re Pike Position - they could all do it !!! Had kids to roll from that postion sideways into seated position ala Lateral Shoulder Roll. Ridge experimented and found the complete Lateral Shoulder Roll himself, and was very pleased with himself - he is a very talented kid and will do really well once he settles down properly.

Had the kids come back to my Physics room towards the end of lunch time to look over the forum and a couple more of the kids may sign on at some stage.

Forgot to mention Forward Spinal Waves - the kids had no fear and love them, particularly when they found out that most adults don't enjoy them at all.

Kids are getting better and better.

Cheers
Randell:D

[Randell Waddell]

Just realized how many sessions I haven't logged - we do train each week - trying to get the kids to post but once the session is finished, they normally just like to "cruise".

Bit disruptive today - had 2 new Deputy Principals plus another teacher down at different times to come up to speed on what we are doing in this program. Had to stop each time and run through an orientation/description for each, so it buggered up the session a lot.

A couple of the old faces not back yet - Jessie has been excluded from the school for another series of misdemeamers (under exaggeration) and no one has heard from Callan at all. Mitch's little brother caused some grief with a lighter (nearly burnt out his room in his house as far as I know) and Mitch has been helping his parents to repaint etc - Mitch is a bonzer kid and is coming along really well. As most of the kids actually.

Still trying to get the kids to post with little success. Never mind - just keep plodding ahead.

Cheers
Randell :D

[Randell Waddell]

New kid Braidon started today. "Big Al", the School Chaplain also joined in with us again.

50 Spinal Rocks

WW Beginners.

Introduction to a wider variety of Clubbell exercises.

Great session - Braidon worked much harder at times than the old hands.

Cheers
Randell :D