Rock and Water
The Rock and Water Program
Building Self-Confidence, Self-Respect and Self-Reflection
Master Instructor Brian Hayes has been involved as a teacher of Rock and Water since he met Freerk Ykeema, the founder and Grandmaster of the program, in 1999. Freerk had been invited to present a workshop at the University of Newcastle, and, with a deep interest in boys educational programs as well as a passion for promoting self defence abilities in boys and girls, Sensei Hayes attended. He liked what he saw and began to implement the program immediately as an instructor.
Basically, Rock and Water is a course that is delivered over a number of lessons to students in primary or high school. A series of exercises and games are practised to develop confidence and self-reflection. The games are martial arts based, and students learn to block, hit strike shields, stand strong, negotiate using "rock" or "water" verbal approaches, walk away from a fight, consider alternatives to aggression, and develop understandings about who they are, their intuitive feelings and their personal direction.
As a Deputy Principal, Brian implemented and managed the program in two Newcastle High Schools, before being invited to conduct one-day training seminars and then three day training seminars around Australia and in New Zealand.
It is this commitment to developing the powerful Rock and Water program that takes Hayes Sensei away from the centre at times, but the benefits are surely felt in the development of curriculum at the centre and staff training to reflect the principles of Rock and Water.
Rock and Water was developed as a program for boys, but the benefits for girls were immediately recognised by Australian teachers and the program is taught widely in mixed groups. The impact of the Rock and Water program can be readily seen at the Hunter Valley Martial Arts Centre. All junior classes stop for a mat chat each lesson, where principles of honesty, compassion, gratitude, patience etc are discussed. Many of the games played in class come from the Rock and Water program.
Most importantly, we emphasise the relationship between the physicality of martial arts training and the development of social skills, self confidence and resilence. This important principle has influenced the development of our unique leadership program, our ten values, respect challenge and many other aspects of our program.
Hayes Sensei has developed a strong reputation as a program presenter. Check the testimonial page to see what teachers, community nurses, chaplains and mental health workers have to say about the program, and the qualities of Hayes Sensei as a teacher and mentor to educational professionals.
If you need equipment for your Rock and Water program, click here.
Are you looking to implement Rock and Water in your school? Feel free to check out the Young Warrior school program. Brian Hayes offers a number of programs, sport options and free sessions that might be of interest to you.
For information about courses and tour dates, please contact Michelle Gifford at the family Action Centre on 02 49216930 or download the attached .pdf file with tour dates and registration form.
Testimonials
Resources for Rock and Water Teachers
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Rock and Water Tour dates 2010
Here are the updated tour dates for the remainder of 2010. Feel free to download forms and return to the Family Action Centre.
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Rock and Water Lesson Plans
Download some lessons plans suitable for primary schools. I have written 30 minute plans and tried to include some of the questions and activities that have worked well for me when doing Rock and Water with younger children.
Of course, the Rock and Water manual is the best resource for lessons and technique, and I do not recommend that you attempt to teach Rock and Water without doing the three day accreditation training.
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Rock and Water Journal
This is a very simple reflective journal that I use in primary schools. Feel free to take it and develop it a little further. Of course, when you do, how about emailing a copy back to me? What goes around .....
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Rock and Water Respect Challenge
This is a challenge inspired by a respect challenge we do in our martial arts school. It offers a way to keep the principles of Rock and Water alive in the mind of the student, after the course has finished. Of course, it is important that the mentor who monitors this challenge has a good understanding of Rock and Water, otherwise it becomes like any other monitoring card or book. It should offer a point of contact and reminder of the principles of R and W on a daily basis.
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Rock and Water Self directed Assignment
This is an assignment you might like to use with your secondary students. It is meant to be given out at the start of the program, and becomes a prerequisite for their certificate of attainment at the end of the course. It may present an opportunity to integrate the Rock and Water program with other subjects, and so promote understanding of the language and strategies of Rock and Water in the wider school community.
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