Parent’s Corner
by Sije Veronica Sas
Fu For You Spring 2024
It is never a good sign when your child stops in the middle of a Kung Fu class because they’ve developed a cramp. This is often due to food, both what was eaten, when they ate it, and how much. When it comes to your child, you no doubt try to make sure they eat a balanced diet. On days that your child has Kung Fu class, you might also want to consider if they have time to digest their meal before class. A class warmup normally has an aerobic portion to it and eating too much, or something hard to digest, right before class could cause stomach problems. When my daughter first started Kung Fu, she often got cramps when running or doing stride jumps. Now that we’ve adjusted what and when she eats on Kung Fu days, it doesn’t happen as often. Since the Academy runs classes starting as early as 4pm during the week, it is inevitable that some classes are held over the dinner hour.
Due to the way the Youth and Junior programs are scheduled, each have their own challenges when it comes to food. During the week, Little Ninja and Youth classes are typically held sometime between when your child is done school to before they eat dinner. Even if they don’t eat dinner beforehand, your child will no doubt want to eat a snack before class. Light, easy to digest snacks such as a piece of fruit or a granola bar are a good choice. Junior classes tend to be held around the dinner hour. These students will eat dinner either before or after class, depending on the family. If your child eats before class, it is important to give them enough time to digest. I find for my daughter; she needs to eat about 1.5 hours before class starts.
It is also important to think about what your child is eating before a grading. Gradings can be thought of as a long, intense Kung Fu class. Your child needs to have enough energy to do their best for the entire afternoon. Although there might be a break in the middle of a grading, it is meant to get a drink of water and use the bathroom, not to have a snack! When both my daughter and I have graded in the past, we usually have a big pasta meal the night before. The day of the grading, we have a big, healthy breakfast and then 2 hours before grading starts, we have a lighter but filling lunch.
One last important aspect of food and your child’s training is hydration. Hydration is always important when exercising, but it becomes doubly so during the hot summer months or for a Kung Fu grading. Remember that thirst is a sign of dehydration! Your child should start increasing their water intake during the summer or a few days before a grading, to keep them hydrated during their training.