Parents have a new way of spending quality time with their toddlers in Yelm. Crawl PNW’s Parent & Toddler Judo Program, a 10-week program held at Harai Dojo in Yelm, is underway, offering exercises and lessons in teamwork, discipline and martial arts basics.
The classes take place every Wednesday beginning at 9:45 a.m. Toddlers have 15 minutes of free time followed by a 30-minute class, which includes a warm-up, drills and a lesson. Each class builds on the previous one, according to Crawl PNW owner and coach Victoria McPherson, so no new members are being accepted for the current 10-week program, but Crawl PNW offers spring and summer classes, as well.
“Every week they’re learning new things. They’re also learning the fundamentals of judo and some Japanese,” she said. “The kids who are taking a class right now can do the first 10 weeks and then we’ll build on another 10 weeks. We’ll have four different sessions a year.”
McPherson was inspired to create the classes, which are specially designed for children from ages 2-5, to help her daughter find interest in getting on the mat, like her three siblings and parents.
“I have four kids, and three of them all get on the mats. The youngest has wanted to get on the mat on her own terms, so we decided to create this class to really get her inspired to be on the mats and enjoy the sport like our whole family does,” she said.
McPherson said not only is the program a fun endeavor for her own family, but it offers the community something it needs.
“For Harai Dojo to open their place up to us and let us have this class here is a big deal. It’s really what the community needs,” she said. “There hasn’t been a lot of things for toddlers to do, especially during this time of year where it’s so cold, and you don’t want to go out and play in the park. They can come here and have some free time and then some one-on-one attention with their parents. What kiddo doesn’t like that?”
The program is marketed as a “mommy-and-me” style of class, but fathers are encouraged to join, as well. Aaron McPherson, Victoria’s husband, participates in the classes with his daughter to help her become comfortable with martial arts.
“Just seeing where this can take them in the sport of judo and in life is really inspiring,” he said. “My older kids actually got into judo and jiu jitsu before my wife and I did. I saw what they were learning and was inspired to learn it myself and to be able to coach them.”
Yelm resident Leah Simmons said joining the class with her son was an easy decision because she appreciated the family aspect that the McPhersons brought to the program.
“It teaches good discipline and teaching skills. It’s exciting because I get to learn along with him, like the basics of judo,” Simmons said. “I enjoy getting to bond with [my son] more.”
