What is UFTkidz?
UFTkidz is a multidimensional training system created for kids between the ages of 6 and 12 years.
The goal of the program is to create a fun, safe and challenging environment that promotes health, fitness and fun.
UFTkidz has been developed to provide the community with a system that teaches their children how to move across a broad range of styles.
We utilise techniques and disciplinary methods from Martial Arts such as, BJJ (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu), Boxing, Muay Thai, Wrestling & Judo as well as incorporating movement based training from gymnastics, crossfit, yoga & PLAYtime.
We have identified a hole in the training and coaching of children and that is, that they are taught to specialise at an age that is far too young. They start football or Karate or other forms of training that teach them a particular way of moving rather than educating them on how to move across all domains and how to create their own movement abilities.
By drawing out aspects of all of these training methods we have been able to develop a system that instils the discipline, respect, control and self defence that comes with martial arts, the excitement and the intensity that comes with sport (Football, CrossFit, etc.), the strength and the movement that comes from gymnastics, the flexibility & mindfulness that comes with yoga and the fun and creativity that comes with PLAYtime.
UFTkidz however, is more than just playing around. Our kids are taught effective techniques from all the styles to ensure they continue to develop into stronger, fitter, faster and more confident mini people.
There is no belt or grading system associated with UFTkidz.
The goal of the UFTkidz program is to educate children on how to move better, how to control themselves, how to be fit, active and healthy, how to defend themselves and it inspires them to think and react in a much more positive way.
Our goal is to create a new breed of kids in training, that are fully capable of doing anything physical that they wish and have the self belief, self confidence and self discipline to do it.
How do UFTkidz classes run?
UFTkidz classes are a 45 – 60min class that covers the following:
Line up to start class and pay respect to training area and coach.
Warm-up with a broad range of movements from all different styles (Rolling, running, falling, jumping, sliding, kicking, side stepping, stretching, etc.)
Fitness and conditioning. We use a number of exercise and techniques that kids have previously learnt or are in the process of learning and we turn it into a fitness & strength based session.
Technique. The coach will have selected 1 or more techniques to work on for that class. They might run through a strength or training technique, a martial arts technique or a stretching/yoga technique.
Game. The kids will then play a game of some sort that is relevant to the technique that they have just gone through.
Cool down and finish class.
Remember how well you moved when you were a kid?
Compare that to how you move now.
I wish I had trained in something so dynamic when I was younger, maybe I would be moving a little better today.
A UFT PLAYground is a place that people of all shapes, sizes and ages learn to develop their movement abilities through an infinite learning and development program. UFT PLAYgrounds have been created to re-inspire our natural ability to move, create, adapt, re-act, connect, have fun and of course PLAY.
PLAYgrounds have been developed to allow people to feel and explore their own abilities by utilising a multidimensional, infinite, creative and PLAYful approach to training.
We live in a world full of specialists and obsessions. At an ever increasing rate, people are specialising more and more, in their jobs, in their businesses, in their sport and in their training. The result, is a backward step in human evolution. By specialising, we limit ourselves to thinking that 1 particular way of doing things is the right way, or the only way.
We promote creativity, not only in movement and training methodologies but in thinking in general.
A UFT PLAYground is created to provide the general public with an opportunity to PLAY across multiple styles of training and moving, to be able to progress in the training methods that they become passionate about or that excites them and to be a part of a community that promotes more than just fitness.
The “fitness” industry above all others has brought about a need to specialise in order to achieve anything, and majority of what we do for “fitness” is for an aesthetically pleasing reason. We understand that aesthetics are nice and we too love to look and feel good. However a UFT PLAYground is developed to allow people to move better than ever before across a broad range of training methodologies and ideas. Aesthetics, therefore are a result not a goal of that system. We know that “If you train to look good, you will not always enjoy what you do, but if you PLAY a lot, and do the things that you love, you will ending up looking good”. Aesthetics should be a result not a goal.
For years now, we have recognised that the best movers on the planet are children. They are flexible, mobile & fit, they have better relative strength than a typical adult (and even most adolescents), they are the best creators and innovators, they learn faster, the adapt better, they interact better with other people, they are more connected to nature and most importantly, they PLAY more than anyone else.
As adults, we tend to believe that because we are taller and more experienced in “life”, we are better, and then we get to an age that says we are “too old to PLAY”. As we grow taller (and in a lot of cases rounder), we experience things that inhibit our ability to move, think and not think. We allow our experiences to limit our abilities as humans, whether it be a physical injury, a story that we heard or a youtube video that we watched. We also allow our emotions to control our behaviour because of our past experiences. Maybe it was the feeling of humiliation when we tried something new, regret when we failed or heart break when it was taken away from us. Because of this, we allow our experiences to control our future instead of learning from them and creating our own
.
This is what UFT PLAYground’s are built on. The understanding that we as humans need to go back to the way things were before our negative experiences took over our subconscious mind and body.
A UFT PLAYground gives people the ability to re-learn what they have lost, as well as develop new sets of skills that will allow them to follow any particular passion that they uncover in PLAYtime. When we PLAY, we are simply, exploring. Through exploring we become curious and through curiosity we become obsessed or passionate about a particular thing. This is why in a PLAYground we allow people to PLAY across a broad range of training systems (minimum of 3), Through this system they are able to identify 1, their current limitations and be educated on how to overcome them, and 2, identify their passions and learn to develop, grow and excel in them.
UFT PLAYgrounds are also a development centre for up and coming entrepreneurs in the fitness industry.
Each PLAYground founder will have been trained and will be continuously trained in UFT’s Trainer Success System.
This system allows personal trainers, coaches, teachers, instructors, etc. to continue to develop in their fields of specialty (as they play they will find it) and in the philosophy of PLAYtime. They will also be trained in the business systems of UFT in order to have their own successful and profitable business.
See UFT Trainer Success System for more details.
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