At Southern Cross Martial Arts, we believe teamwork isn’t just for sports teams — it’s a life skill that starts on the mats, and there is no bench or season. We practice year round.
Even our youngest Martial Arts students, aged 3 to 6 or even 8, are learning what it means to work together, communicate, and support each other in fun, age-appropriate ways.
For this age group, learning happens best through play and imitation.
Our classes are filled with game-based drills that gently teach cooperation, listening, and shared responsibility.
One of our favourite examples is when the kids help “clean up the dojo” at the end of class. They work together to collect pads, cones, and focus sticks, learning how to communicate, move safely, and finish a task as a team.
What looks like a simple game is actually building the foundations of teamwork — understanding roles, following instructions, and helping others succeed.
Children aged 3 to 6 are at a stage where they’re developing both independence and awareness of others.
Our instructors shape each activity around these developmental stages. That’s why teamwork lessons at this age look more like play — but behind the smiles and games, real social learning is happening.
As our students grow, we introduce small challenges like pad-swapping races, where pairs of children practice working efficiently and respectfully. They learn how to communicate quickly — “Your turn!” “Ready?” — and how cooperation helps them complete the task faster.
These small group and partner activities build confidence and teach that teamwork isn’t just about winning; it’s about helping your partner do their best too.
Another important way we build teamwork is through grappling-based games.
At this age, children learn simple concepts like finding their balance (base), rolling safely, and escaping positions to stand back up.
They work with partners — one helping, one escaping — learning to move safely, give space, and communicate while they play. It’s a fun and controlled way to build trust, body awareness, and respect for others.
Even though it feels like play, it teaches them to work with their partner, not against them — a key lesson in both teamwork and martial arts.
When young martial artists learn teamwork early, they develop more than physical skills. They build empathy, patience, problem-solving, and leadership — traits that support them at school, at home, and throughout their martial arts journey.
At S.C.M.A., we don’t just build strong bodies — we help build strong teams.