Personal Philosophy of Physical Education

My personal philosophy of education is that physical education, more so than any other skill, is a lifelong practice.
As students grow older, their metabolism declines, and it becomes even more important to maintain physical fitness. In
addition to the obvious health benefits of regular physical activity, it has been scientifically proven that regular exercise
increases mental acuity. Speaking as a person who suffers daily from physical trauma, the benefits of physical education
cannot be underscored enough. The many concussions I received during my career have diminished my mental acuity, as
well as made routine exercise more difficult. It is for these reasons that I continually strive to find new and better ways to
exercise that take into consideration physical injury and ways of being active that minimize risk. In this way, I hope to
develop a practice that differentiates for all types of student, and is flexible enough to accommodate for any type of
exceptionality; physical or mental. I understand the long-term consequences that can come from injury, and work extra
hard to make sure my students are being pushed to their limits in the safest way possible, allowing them to grow and
become better than they were the day before. This stems from my martial arts discipline, where I was taught, and passed
on to my students, that you only ever compete against the person you were yesterday, and if you can be better than you
were, that is true winning. This philosophy easily extends into team sports, as it promotes the idea of hard work and giving
your absolute best for your team.
The Journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. These are the words that I hand painted over the
archway into my school. It was a favorite saying of Eternal Grandmaster H. U. Lee, and it is something I apply to all my
instruction. Everything the students learn in my Physical Education class builds upon what they have learned before, and
what they will learn in the future. Even if the students do not see the immediate relationships between units, the increase
in manual dexterity and physical endurance contributes to them in other P. E. units as well as increasing their focus and
concentration in every class. The classes in school are not isolated; they do not live in a vacuum. Instead they are
strongly interwoven and contribute in indirect ways to the other classes. P. E. strengthens the students mind and body,
and their academic courses hone the students ability to absorb information. It creates a circle that benefits both student
and teacher greatly. This is why I find P. E. such an important part of classes for a young mind.

Introduction of the Unit Plan

This unit plan is an introduction to martial arts for a grade 10 class. It is a much accelerated version of the teaching
methods I used in my martial arts school. Ordinarily, I would have 16 classes, ranging from a half of an hour to a full hour,
spread out over eight to ten weeks. During this time, the students would learn all of the basic techniques for their level, the
form for their level, either sparring or one-step defense for their level, and weapons training for their level. In this
condensed version, I have dropped weapons training and sparring, and focused on forms, one-step defense, chosen
carefully to share basic techniques, maximizing the crossover learning and allowing the students to retain more
information in a shorter amount of time.
In terms of assessment, I have decided on a number of different strategies. Again, the focus is on helping the
students with memory retention. As such, there will be a lot of one-on-one instruction during communal practice times, a
daily journal assignment for them to reflect upon their practice, and a skill checklist to remind them of the their basic
techniques, the order of moves in the form, and the steps involved in the defense. Through repetition and demonstration,
the students should be able to practice on their own time, outside of class, to further increase their skills. All of this will
culminate in a traditional style testing where the students will come up in groups of 6 and demonstrate their skills. Those
students who are not actively participating in the testing will be tested as well: on their behavior and attitude. Since
discipline and respect are such vital parts of martial arts training, it will be reinforced from day one, during cool downs for
stretching, about the importance of maintaining discipline and showing respect for your fellow students.
The techniques themselves are simple and straight forward. There is a high and low block, a front and side kick, a
punch and a knife-hand strike. Both the form and the one-step defense will use these techniques in combination.
Demonstration will show the students the idea of the push-pull nature of all techniques, and how retracting with one side
while exerting forward with the other generates more power, almost all of this coming from the hips and twisting of the
torso.
Finally, there will be ongoing discussions about safety and the proper use of the martial arts. The emphasis will be
on the students understanding that martial arts is only ever used for self-defense, and never to attack someone. I will
relate personal anecdotes about self-defense and interactions I have had that used the will and discipline of the martial
arts to resolve problems instead of raising my hands in anger.

Grade 10

Unit: Martial Arts

Lesson
Number
1

Lesson
Title
Introduction
to Martial
Arts

Dates: November 2 nd 10th, 2015

GLO

SLO

Learning Activities

A, B, D

A10-1, 13
B10-6
D10-1, 2

The Basics
of Martial
Arts

See
above

See above

Forms

See
above

See above

-Cardio-kickboxing warmup (10

min)
-Stretching, discussion about
discipline and perseverance (5 min)
-Basic technique introduction and
practice front and side kick, knifehand strike, front stance(15 min)
-Target practice with basic
techniques (15 min)
-Technique combination practice
(10 min)
-Cool down stretch, closing
discussion about discipline and
practice outside of class (5 min)
-Cardio-kickboxing warmup (10
min)
-Stretching, discussion about
discipline and perseverance (5 min)
-Basic technique practice reverse
punch, high and low block, inner
forearm block, middle stance (15
min)
-Target practice with basic
techniques (15 min)
-Technique combination practice
(10 min)
-Cool down stretch, closing
discussion about discipline and
practice outside of class (5 min)
-Cardio-kickboxing warmup (10
min)
-Stretching, discussion about
discipline and perseverance (5 min)
-Introduction to White Belt Form (15
min)
-Form practice with targets (15 min)
-Basic Technique review (10 min)
-Cool down stretch, closing
discussion about discipline and
practice outside of class (5 min)

Assessment

Safety

-Participation
level
-Individual
observation
-Student
Feedback
-Skills Checklist
-Daily journal
assignment

-Demonstration on
proper way to hold
targets
-Continued
demonstration of
proper technique
-Praise-correct-praise
to refine technique
-Reinforce martial arts
is not to be used on
other students, and
only ever in selfdefense

-Participation
level
-Individual
observation
-Student
Feedback
-Skills Checklist
-Daily journal
assignment

-Demonstration on
proper way to hold
targets
-Continued
demonstration of
proper technique
-Praise-correct-praise
to refine technique
-Reinforce martial arts
is not to be used on
other students, and
only ever in selfdefense

-Participation
level
-Individual
observation
-Student
Feedback
-Skills Checklist
-Daily journal
assignment

-Demonstration on
proper way to hold
targets
-Continued
demonstration of
proper technique
-Praise-correct-praise
to refine technique
-Reinforce martial arts
is not to be used on
other students, and

Instructional
Strategies
-Praisecorrect-praise
-Partner
feedback
Demonstratio
n
-Repetition
practice

Equip.

Motive.

20
Handpaddle
targets

Explain
benefits of
health, selfdefense and
increase of
confidence

-Praisecorrect-praise
-Partner
feedback
Demonstratio
n
-Repetition
practice

20
Handpaddle
targets

Anecdote
about
progress and
mastery

Praisecorrect-praise
-Partner
feedback
Demonstratio
n
-Repetition
practice

20
Handpaddle
targets

Explain
benefits of
daily practice
and training,
mental
health
benefits of
discipline
and focus

One-step
Defense

See
above

See above

-Cardio-kickboxing warmup (10

min)
-Stretching, discussion about
discipline and perseverance (5 min)
-Introduction to One-step defense
(15 min)
-One-step defense practice with
partner (15 min)
-White Belt form review (10 min)
-Cool down stretch, closing
discussion about discipline and
practice outside of class (5 min)

-Participation
level
-Individual
observation
-Student
Feedback
-Skills Checklist
-Daily journal
assignment

Forms and
One-steps,
continued

See
above

See above

-Cardio-kickboxing warmup (10

min)
-Stretching, discussion about
discipline and perseverance (5 min)
-One-step defense practice with
partner (20 min)
-White Belt form review (20 min)
-Cool down stretch, closing
discussion about discipline and
practice outside of class (5 min)

-Participation
level
-Individual
observation
-Student
Feedback
-Skills Checklist
-Daily journal
assignment

Your First
Stripe

See
above

See above

-Cardio-kickboxing warmup (10

min)
-Stretching, discussion about
discipline and perseverance (5 min)
-One-step defense practice with
partner (10 min)
-White Belt form review (10 min)
-Testing to demonstrate
knowledge (20 min)
-Cool down stretch, closing
discussion about discipline and
practice outside of class (5 min)

-Participation
level
-Individual
observation
-Student
Feedback
-Skills Checklist
-Daily journal
assignment
-Formal testing
to demonstrate
skills learned:
basic
techniques, onestep defense
and forms

only ever in selfdefense

-Demonstration on
proper way to hold
targets
-Continued
demonstration of
proper technique
-Praise-correct-praise
to refine technique
-Reinforce martial arts
is not to be used on
other students, and
only ever in selfdefense
-Demonstration on
proper way to hold
targets
-Continued
demonstration of
proper technique
-Praise-correct-praise
to refine technique
-Reinforce martial arts
is not to be used on
other students, and
only ever in selfdefense
-Demonstration on
proper way to hold
targets
-Continued
demonstration of
proper technique
-Praise-correct-praise
to refine technique
-Reinforce martial arts
is not to be used on
other students, and
only ever in selfdefense

Praisecorrect-praise
-Partner
feedback
Demonstratio
n
-Repetition
practice

20
Handpaddle
targets

Demo of
higher-level
techniques/
board
breaking
(during cool
down)

Praisecorrect-praise
-Partner
feedback
Demonstratio
n
-Repetition
practice

20
Handpaddle
targets

Anecdote
about martial
arts as a
lifelong skill

Praisecorrect-praise
-Partner
feedback
Demonstratio
n
-Repetition
practice

20
Handpaddle
targets

Award of
miniature
belts to
signify
progress

Grading Description
Skills Checklist:
Basic Technique

Total:
Form (in order of
techniques)

High Block

High Block (front stance)

Low Block

Reverse Punch (front

stance)

Inner Forearm Block

Front Kick (front stance)

Punch/Reverse
Punch

Low Block (front stance)

Knife-hand Strike

Punch (front stance)

Front Kick

Inner Forearm Block

(middle stance)

Side Kick

Side Kick (middle stance)

Front Stance

Knife-hand Strike (middle

stance)

Middle stance

Punch (front stance)

/9

Daily Journal Assignment:

/20

One-step defense (in order of

techniques)

N/A

High Block (front stance)

Punch (front stance)

N/A

Reverse Punch (front stance)

Punch (front stance)

N/A

Low Block (front stance)

/6

/5

For every day of this unit, the student will make a journal recording. The student has the option of doing this journal entry
either on paper, digitally in a document or blog, through a podcast or a video blog. The student will document their
experience in class, what was talked about during the stretch discussions, what they felt they did well on, and what they
want to work on for next class. Finally, the student will document practice time outside of class. This practice times needs
to only be between 5 and 10 minutes long, and should consist of the techniques, forms and self-defense practiced in
class.
Scoring:
Successful journal entry

24 marks total, broken down into:

-overall experience

6 marks

-stretch discussion

6 marks

-did well on

6 marks

-to work on

6 marks

Outside of class practice time

12 marks total, broken down into:

-practice

6 marks

-documentation*

6 marks

Total:

Testing Rubric

36 marks

*the documentation is meant to

prove that you did the work out
of class. For written journal-ers,
have someone take a picture of
you practicing or otherwise
record your practice. This
documentation can be
incorporated into your main
journal entry (so you could
reflect on the class and on your

Basic Techniques

Score

Forms

Score

One-step Defense

Score

Respect and Discipline

4 Shows strong
techniques with few
flaws, good power in
techniques and control

4 Shows strong
techniques with few
flaws, good power in
techniques and control

4 Shows strong
techniques with few
flaws, good power in
techniques and control

4 Student sits quietly

and watches other
students perform

3 Shows decent
technique, some
flaws, decent power
and control

3 Shows decent
technique, some
flaws, decent power
and control

3 Shows decent
technique, some flaws,
decent power and
control

3 Students fidgets very

little and mostly pays
attention

2 Shows poor
technique, many
flaws, poor power and
control

2 Shows poor
technique, many
flaws, poor power and
control

2 Shows poor
technique, many flaws,
poor power and
control

2 Student is regularly
distracted or not focused
during testing

1 Shows terrible
technique or otherwise
lacks effort or control

1 Shows terrible
technique or otherwise
lacks effort or control

1 Shows terrible
technique or otherwise
lacks effort or control

1 Student is disruptive
during testing

Total:

Sample Student:

Score

/16

Dean Winchester
Name

Day Participatio
n /10 (10%)

Observation Skills
/10 (20%)
Checklist /20
(20%)

Journal /
36 (30%)

Testing /
24 (20%)

Notes

Dean W.

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

20

34

22

Dean was already excited

about doing martial arts in
class, so his attitude going
in was good. He practiced
hard, worked well in class,
and did really well on his
journal. I think Dean had a
real future in the martial
arts. TOTAL = 91%