Stances and basic strikes
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can demonstrate the basic principles of martial arts including fighting stance and basic fighting techniques.
Key learning points
- Move: adopting the correct guard stance in martial arts is fundamental to performing attacking and defensive skills.
- Think: listening to cues, alongside observing your partner, requires concentration.
- Feel: trying to learn and continually practise new skills requires courage and resilience.
- Connect: providing positive feedback to one another creates a positive learning environment.
Keywords
Stance - the position of the body for balance and readiness to perform
Punch - a strike using a closed fist
Guard - a defensive position used to protect the head, body and vital areas from strikes.
Common misconception
Pupils will often tuck their thumbs under fingers or stick them out.
Pupils should lock thumbs around the outside of their fist to adopt the correct guard stance.
Teacher tip
Emphasise that we are looking at basic martial arts movements as we do not have the padding and protective clothing necessary to do any contact work. The skills we learn are used across a range of different martial arts.
Content guidance
Risk assessment required - physical activity
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Which part of the body is used to jab in martial arts?
Q2.Which of the following attributes is most useful to have in martial arts?
Q3.Why do martial artists bow to each other?
Q4.What is the guard position used for in martial arts?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Which punch do you perform with the front hand?
Q2.Which of the following attributes help you to learn and practise new skills?
Q3.Which muscles should you engage to help you generate power and balance when performing a cross punch?
Q4.Where should your thumb be in relation to your fingers when in the guard stance?
To help you plan your 11 physical education lesson on: Stances and basic strikes, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 physical education lesson on: Stances and basic strikes, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom.
Explore more key stage 4 physical education lessons from the Health and wellbeing: martial arts and self-defence unit, dive into the full secondary physical education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.