Body Over Emotion

GOOD SELF-CONTROL (Section #3) – Week 2 – Instructor’s Script

Start the lesson by gathering your students into a tight huddle and ask these three questions:

What does it mean to have self-control?
Why is it important to have self-control?
Can you give me an example of having self-control?

Then share the following story or lesson and ask the questions listed.

This week we are going to talk about what can we do with our body, when we become angry or afraid, to make us feel better?

Have you ever gotten mad at your mom or dad, or sister or brother, or friend and said or did something you regretted later on? We all have. Chances are, when we get angry we let our emotions get the best of us. Remember, there are two things a Martial Artist never does when they are angry. They never speak out of anger and they never strike out of anger.

Repeat after me, “Never speak out of anger and never strike out of anger.”

So, what can we do the next time we get angry to keep ourselves from doing something we will regret later?

First off, let us see how someone stands when they are angry (have a child demonstrate to the rest of the class -- coach them by saying) ...usually their shoulders are shrugged, their head is forward, and they are scowling. How does someone that is angry breathe? Usually in quick, shallow breaths.

Now let’s see how someone stands when they are calm and confident... (have a different child demonstrate to the rest of the class -- coach them by saying) usually their shoulders are back, their head is up, and they have a slight smile on their face.

Next time you find yourself angry, bring you shoulders back, lift your chin up, smile, and take ten long, slow, deep breaths while saying “Relax” to yourself. It is almost impossible to stay mad when you stand and breathe in this fashion.

Let’s practice: Have everyone get up and practice going from mad to confident.