Kids Series: Stance - The first thing to teach

How to Teach Stance With Verbal Cues

Let's start with the head. Use words like "Eyes up!" "Head up!" or both in succession, "Eyes up head up!" This is much easier for the kids and expedites the behavior you are trying to get to emerge.

Next is the hands. In Hawaii we have a lot of wild chickens so it is easy for the kids to relate to the next cue. If you tell the kids, "Hands up!" you will get so many different creative reactions. Tell them though "Hands up!" After which you will most likely have to do some minor corrections. I tell them to imagine they are holding baby chickens in their hands and gently move their hands near their collars if need be.

While correcting the hands usually naturally moves their elbows in, sometimes you will need to correct those too. "Elbows tight" works very well to create eccentric posture that will be required to maintain their stance.

"Bend your knees" or "Bend your legs" both work well. Some kids simply do not know where there knees are yet. They all seem to know at least where there legs are. Even so, I recommend you move towards using "Bend your knees" as knowing where the knees are will be highly beneficial in the long run.

To get staggered feet, "Step back" or "Step one leg back" whatever it is having them step back naturally gives them base. If you ask them to step forward they seem to want to keep moving forward.

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