Teaching flexibility

As a prelude to its official opening in September this year, Stamford American School Hong Kong is organising a series of free workshops to give young people the chance to meet and learn from inspiring thought leaders in a number of different fields.

The first such event in this Global Mentor Program was held in mid-January. It saw Joy Koh, the highest qualified gymnastics coach based in Singapore, taking groups of four- to eight-year-olds through a sequence of warm-up exercises and basic skills.

The emphasis was on participation and fun. But during the sessions, Koh also introduced simple movement patterns and explained the importance of flexibility, co-ordination, good form, and listening to the coach.

“We call gymnastics the mother of sports because it teaches so many foundational skills, which then help in picking up other sports,” she says. “On a very tangible level, if you can master gymnastics, you are better able to manage your body, remain healthy and avoid injuries. In less tangible ways, you realise that hard work and following the correct process leads to results. I often see kids surprising themselves with what they can achieve through their own efforts and by working steadily towards a clear goal.”

In the sessions, Koh wanted to demonstrate how each individual can quite quickly learn to do something they have never done before. She set a challenge which might have seemed a little out of reach, but soon had kids performing handstands, swinging on bars, and balancing on a beam.

“I also sit them down before the class to run through the rules and guidelines,” she says. “They have to watch when we introduce a new skill, and if they do something they are not supposed to, we call them out and make sure they are here to learn.”

Joy Koh, Singapore's highest qualified gymnastics coach

Speaking to parents at a separate seminar on “Raising Champions”, Koh emphasised the value of sports not just in promoting physical health and strength, but also for developing social skills, confidence, and self-discipline. She noted that such qualities help to build character and are widely recognised as contributing to academic success.