Shields Up

Three blocks and first pad work — defence taught as a superpower, with holding a pad treated as a skill of its own

Kids martial arts
Kids 5–9 · Any art
45 min
8–20 kids (even numbers help; helper useful above 14)
1 coach
Effort 3/5
Full mat area
blocks
pads
fundamentals
partner-work

The MatPlans curriculum teamBJJ black belts & coaches · 12+ yrs on the mat

Kit: Mats, 8 spot markers, a pool noodle per pair (or per coach), a hand target or small pad per pair

Warm-up8 min

Bow In & Shield Tag

Setup: Bow in on spots, then open the mat with four corner cones. Two or three taggers in bibs.

How it works: Ordinary tag with one martial twist: dropping into your art's guard with both palms up — shields up — makes you safe for three seconds, then you must move again. Taggers tag shoulders only, gently. Swap taggers every minute. Finish with thirty seconds of shields-up on the spot: you call 'high, low, high' and they flash their palms to each level, fast hands, feet bouncing.

Rounds: Three or four one-minute rounds — the guard position gets rehearsed fifty times without one boring rep.

What to say

“Shields up means hands up AND knees bent — praise the full shape, not just the hands.”
“Gentle shoulder tags — show what a friendly tag feels like on a helper first.”
“Reset fast between rounds: taggers hand bibs over in five seconds, count it down.”

Easier

Bigger area, walking taggers, safe-time of five seconds.

Harder

Safe only in a proper stance with the correct level called by the tagger as they approach.

Drill12 min

The Three Shields

Setup: Lines on spot markers, everyone facing you with room to step. Use your art's names for the blocks — the shapes below are the common ground.

How it works: Teach three blocks, one at a time, each with a story name: the High Shield sweeps up above the forehead like opening curtains; the Middle Shield crosses the body like closing a door; the Low Shield sweeps down and across like brushing off crumbs. For each: show it slowly twice, class copies five slow reps on your count, then five quick reps on claps. Then mix them: call 'high, low, middle' in any order, class flashes the right shield from guard each time. Sneak the footwork in last — every block gets a small step back as it lands.

The technique, step by step

High Shield: sweep up above the forehead — open the curtains.
Middle Shield: forearm across the body — close the door.
Low Shield: sweep down and across — brush the crumbs.
Mix on calls, then add the small step back.

Key details

Chin stays tucked behind the shoulder on every block.
The other hand guards the face while its partner works.

Common mistakes

Blocking with a straight stiff arm — soft bend so the shield gives, not shatters.
Watching their own arm — eyes stay forward on the coach.

What to say

“Blocks start from the guard, not from the hips — shields live up where they work.”
“Say the story as they move: 'open the curtains… close the door… brush the crumbs.'”
“Thirty seconds of talk, then reps — if your explanation outlasts their stillness, shorten it.”

Easier

Two shields only, all on slow counts with you mirroring at the front.

Harder

Blocks with the step back on every rep, then eyes-closed listening rounds where the call alone triggers the shield.

Drill10 min

Noodle Storm

Setup: Pairs, one pool noodle per pair, pairs spread across the mat with two arms of space each. Demonstrate the holder's job first with a helper — holding is tonight's second skill.

How it works: The holder swings the noodle in slow motion at three heights — above the head height for the high shield, towards the shoulder for the middle, towards the thigh for the low — always announcing the level first, always at robot speed. The blocker meets it with the right shield. Ten swings, then swap roles. The noodle never touches heads or faces; holders aim wide and slow, because the win is their partner blocking well, not the noodle landing. Round two: holder stops announcing and the blocker reads the swing.

Common mistakes

Holders speeding up to win — remind them the holder can only win by making their partner better.
Blockers backing away instead of blocking — feet still, shield does the work.

Rounds: 10 swings per role, swap, then the silent round — about three swaps fits the block.

What to say

“Coach the holders as loudly as the blockers: 'slow swing, wide of the face — you are the teacher now.'”
“Announce then swing in round one — surprise is for later weeks.”
“Praise the pair, not the person: 'that pair's rhythm is perfect' doubles the effect.”

Easier

Coach or helper does all the swinging while pairs block side by side.

Harder

Mix the levels unannounced, add the step back, and finish each block frozen in guard for one count.

The rest of this lesson is free — along with 3 more this week.

MatPlans curriculum team

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