Horting lessons for kids. Eduard Yeremenko

Horting Lessons for Kids

Eduard Yeremenko
World Horting Federation – Official Educational Program

Introduction: Horting as a Comprehensive Development System

Our combination of expert coaching, modern training methodologies, safe training facilities, competitive experience, and a strong family-oriented environment makes our organization one of the leading Horting training centers in Kyiv.

Horting is more than a sport. For different people, it represents a martial art, a competitive discipline, a system of physical education, and in many cases, a lifestyle. Within our philosophy, Horting is considered one of the most complete and effective forms of physical and personal development for children and youth.

The children’s Horting program is designed not only to teach movement skills but also to develop character, discipline, resilience, and confidence through structured physical education.

Horting for Children: Multifaceted Development

Horting for children serves multiple purposes simultaneously. It is:

A fun and engaging sport
A structured discipline system
A recreational and social activity
A fitness and health development program
A foundation for self-defense awareness
A long-term developmental pathway

Children participate in Horting for different reasons: to improve physical fitness, build confidence, learn self-defense, or simply enjoy active movement in a supportive environment. However, the primary motivation for most children remains enjoyment and engagement through structured play and learning.

Training Philosophy: Learning Through Structured Enjoyment

Horting for kids is fundamentally designed to be enjoyable while maintaining educational structure.

All training sessions follow strict safety rules that regulate interaction and ensure controlled progression. This allows children of all skill levels to participate safely while developing technical and physical abilities.

Horting competitions are organized across multiple levels, including club, regional, national, and international championships. Age and weight categories ensure fairness and safety for all participants, including separate divisions for boys and girls.

Technical Structure of Horting for Children

Horting combines both striking and grappling components in a controlled educational format. Children are gradually introduced to:

Basic striking mechanics (kicks and punches in controlled settings)
Throwing and balance techniques
Ground control, pins, and positional awareness
Joint control and defensive movement patterns
Safe falling and recovery techniques

Training is conducted on professional mats to ensure maximum safety and comfort.

A unique feature of Horting is its inclusivity. It allows participation across different age groups, genders, and physical abilities, making it one of the most accessible martial education systems. Even adults and seniors can train alongside younger participants in adapted formats.

Educational and Psychological Benefits

Horting is designed to develop not only physical abilities but also psychological and social competencies.

Regular participation supports the development of:

Self-discipline and consistency
Respect for self, peers, and instructors
Concentration and mental focus
Leadership and responsibility skills
Emotional control under pressure
Self-confidence and self-efficacy

Through structured progression and achievement systems, children learn to set goals and work systematically toward improvement.

Rank System and Motivation

Horting utilizes a structured ranking system that recognizes individual progress, skill development, and leadership qualities.

Separate ranking structures exist for junior and senior practitioners. Advancement is based on merit, performance, and demonstrated technical ability.

Ranks are visually represented through colored chevrons and advanced instructor levels, including:

Junior ranks
Senior ranks
Instructor levels (three degrees)
Master levels (three degrees)
International master levels (three degrees)

This structured progression system encourages long-term motivation and continuous development.

Principles and Educational Values

Horting is based on the principle of efficiency in movement and technique execution, emphasizing the intelligent use of balance, leverage, timing, and body mechanics rather than brute force.

Core principles include:

Maximum efficiency of movement
Technical precision over strength
Adaptability under resistance
Mutual respect and controlled interaction

Children are taught to respond to force intelligently—often by redirecting energy rather than opposing it directly.

These principles extend beyond training and can be applied in everyday life, supporting personal development, problem-solving, and interpersonal behavior.

Self-Defense and Practical Application

Horting provides practical self-defense education grounded in realistic training scenarios. Unlike systems based on theoretical movement patterns, Horting emphasizes live interaction with resisting partners.

This approach develops:

Real-time decision-making skills
Awareness of distance and timing
Confidence in physical confrontation
Controlled defensive response under stress

Training includes both standing and ground-based scenarios, ensuring comprehensive preparation for real-life situations.

Getting Started in Horting

Starting Horting is simple and accessible:

Enrollment is available year-round
No fixed start dates are required
Registration and basic equipment are sufficient to begin training

No prior fitness level is required. Training programs are adapted individually to match each child’s physical condition and developmental stage.

Age and Development Considerations

Children may begin training typically between 5 and 7 years old, depending on individual maturity, attention span, and physical readiness.

Training progression is carefully adjusted to ensure safety, engagement, and long-term development.

Training Environment and Safety

Safety is a core principle of all Horting programs. Training environments are designed to ensure:

Proper mat protection and injury prevention
Age-appropriate instruction
Controlled partner selection
Positive and structured learning atmosphere

Instructors monitor all interactions to ensure safe and productive practice conditions.

Competition and Development

Competition plays an important role in the development of young athletes.

For children, participation in tournaments contributes to:

Character development
Emotional resilience
Goal-setting abilities
Motivation and discipline

While competition is encouraged, participation levels may vary depending on the child’s readiness and parental preference.

Gender Inclusion and Social Development

Horting is inclusive for both boys and girls. Training together promotes mutual respect, equality, and cooperative learning.

Competitive divisions ensure fairness while maintaining equal opportunities for development.

Conclusion: A Complete Development System

Horting is a comprehensive system of physical, mental, and social development for children.

It integrates:

Physical fitness
Technical martial education
Psychological resilience
Social responsibility
Long-term personal growth

Through structured training, safe practice, and progressive development, Horting provides children with the tools necessary to grow into confident, disciplined, and capable individuals.

Final Statement

MAKE HORTING A PART OF YOUR CHILD’S DEVELOPMENT TODAY.

Eduard Yeremenko. “Horting Lessons for Kids.”
World Horting Federation – Official Website

Our combination of expert coaching, modern training methods, safe training facilities, competition results and great family environment make us the "Premier Horting Training Center" in Kyiv. Horting is many things to different people: martial art, sport and way of life are just a few. We at Horting consider "Horting" to be one of the best forms of physical education.

Horting for kids is many things to different people. It is a fun sport, an art, a discipline, a recreational or social activity, a fitness program, a means of self-defense or combat, and a way of life. It is all of these and more. People practice Horting to excel in competition, to stay in shape, to develop self-confidence, and for many other reasons. But most of all, children do Horting just for the fun of it.

Horting for kids is Fun!

As in all sports, Horting has a strict set of rules that governs competition and ensures safety. For those who want to test their skills, Horting offers the opportunity for competition at all skill levels, from club to national tournaments, to the World Championships. There are separate weight divisions for men and women, and boys and girls.

Horting is best known for it's - kicks and punches, spectacular throwing techniques but also involves considerable grappling on the ground utilizing specialized pins, control holds, arm locks, and Horting choking techniques. Horting emphasizes safety, and full physical activity for top conditioning. Horting is learned on special mats for comfort and safety. Horting is unique in that all age groups, both sexes, and most disabled persons can participate together in learning and practicing the sport. Horting is an inexpensive, year-round activity, that appeals to people from all walks of life. Many people over sixty years of age enjoy the sport, as well as very young boys and girls.

Horting develops self-discipline and respect for oneself and others. Horting provides the means for learning self-confidence, concentration, and leadership skills, as well as physical coordination, power, and flexibility. As a sport that has evolved from a fighting art, it develops complete body control, fine balance, and fast reflexive action. Above all, it develops a sharp reacting mind well-coordinated with the same kind of body. Horting training gives a person an effective self-defense system if the need arises, and is often a part of the training done by athletes preparing for MMA Horting matches.

Horting created the system of ranks, that recognize a person's degree of knowledge, ability, and leadership. There are separate ranks for juniors and seniors. Horting ranks are identified by colored chevron, three degrees of advanced grades for instructor, three degrees of advanced grades for master and three degrees of advanced grades for international master. Regular advancement encourages students to achieve more.

Principles and Goals of Horting. Horting, which is translated as the "power and pride", teaches the principle of efficient in the application of technique. This is the efficient use of balance, leverage, and movement in the performance of Horting throws and other skills. Skill, technique and timing, rather than the use of brute strength, are the essential ingredients for success in Horting. For example, in Horting classes you may learn how to give way, rather than use force, to overcome a stronger opponent. The principles of Horting, such as "Maximum Efficiency" and "Mutual Welfare and Benefit", can also be used in our dealings with others in life. The ultimate goal in Horting is to develop oneself to the maximum extent possible, always striving for perfection, so that you can contribute something of value to the world. Horting involves wrestling-like moves. It has no strikes and uses no weapons. How popular is Horting? Today, Horting is practiced for fun, fitness, recreation, self-defense and competition throughout the world by thousands of people. Horting has found its way into the school systems in Ukraine. Why should I learn Horting instead of another art?
Horting is a better form of physical education, especially for children. Horting training is tougher, so your body is better prepared mentally and physically to withstand the rigors of an assault. It's more complete because it has standing and ground fighting skills. It provides a better sense of true accomplishments because there is no "make believe" in its training. It's an excellent sport to cross-train in because it offers great development in balance, kinesthetic awareness, coordination and ruggedness.

Getting Started. When can I start?
You can start any time you are ready to join our program. We have no specific beginning sessions.

How do I get started?
That's easy! Fill out the registration form in Club of Horting, pay your training fees, purchase your uniform (Horting-suit), and you're ready to embark on a wonderful journey with us.

Do I have to sign a contract?
No. We are on a three, six, 12 month membership basis or constant membership.

How old must my child be to start Horting?
Although we accept children as young as five on a case by case basis, a better starting age may be 6 or 7 for some children. The starting age will depend on a child's maturity level, attention span, interest, and sports background.

Am I too old to start Horting?
That really depends on how old you think you are, and what kind of physical and medical condition you are in. We have students who begin Horting well into their forties. Horting is a sport that you can practice beyond your sixties provided you start early enough in your life.

How fit must I be before I can start training?
If you wait until you are fit, you'll never start Horting! So, come in with whatever fitness level you have, and we'll adjust your training.

Will I need special equipment?
The only equipment you'll need is a Horting uniform, which you can purchase from our supplier. You can purchase directly from the supplier and they will ship directly to your home.

What will my first lessons consist of?
Since our classes consist of students with a variety of Horting experience, you will participate at your own pace in a general warm-up and stretching period. After that, you will be assigned an assistant coach or a senior student to teach you some basic skills. You will probably get your first taste of sparring, which we call "scholastic fighting", toward the end of your first practice. Of course, it'll be with a very accommodating training partner who will help you reinforce some of the skills you learned in your first lesson. This set-up will last until you are capable of participating with the rest of the class.

Do I practice with less or more experienced people?
You will be paired up with a variety of training partners, all of whom will be there to help you learn Horting in a positive environment.

Is Horting appropriate for girls or women?
Very much so! In our opinion, females need Horting more than males do. According to many statistics, as many as one in three females will be subjected to an assault, mugging or rape in her lifetime! We believe that Horting training will give females the physical strength, mental toughness and self-defense tools to better handle an assault. Horting will also help females develop assertiveness and confidence to face the day to day hurdles in today's society.

Will Horting help me defend myself?
Even Horting's detractors will tell you that Horting is strong and effective for self-defense because it's a combative sport and MMA. Go figure! The bottom line is that Horting is effective for self-defense precisely because it is a combative sport. The competitive element in Horting training gives you a much more realistic preparation for self-defense situations, especially since Horting involves both standing and ground fighting skills. There are no forms or "air bashing" in Horting-only real interaction with a real training partner who fights back.

Will Horting help me in other sports?
Horting is one of the best sports to cross-train in, especially if you play a contact sport. It's a natural complement to wrestling. Horting will improve your balance, coordination, kinesthetic awareness, strength, physical and mental toughness, and self-confidence, and will make you a better athlete.

Is horting practice physically challenging enough to substitute for time in the gym?
Yes. Many of our adults have joined us after being bored with their weight training or cardio programs. Horting offers anaerobic, aerobic, strength and flexibility training in addition to the technical and self-defense benefits.

Will horting help me be a better high school wrestler?
Most assuredly, yes! As a matter of fact we don't understand why every wrestler isn't also a Horting player. Wrestlers who do Horting become better wrestlers. Wrestlers will benefit from Horting's emphasis on leverage and finesse, and will learn a different set of combative techniques to complement their wrestling skills.

All About Promotions.

Does Horting use a qualification system?
Yes, it does. As a matter of fact, Horting pioneers invented the colored chevron system that is now used.

How long does it take to become a master of horting?
The average time at Horting is six to eight years if you train three times a week, and compete from time to time. Of course, it'll also depend on your prior sports experience and your learning ability. Horting maintains high standards for rank advancement.

How often will I get promoted and how much does it cost?
Promotions are strictly based on merit, and we have no promotion fees. There are no automatic, quarterly promotion events like you'll find in many martial arts studios. You can expect to be promoted two to three times during your first year of training, after which promotions will come at a slower rate of one or two per year.

Can my 10 year old become a master of horting?
Not a chance! In Horting, there are no promotions to master-rank for young children. Unlike many of the styles, Horting requires physical maturity before becoming a master-rank. In other words, your child must be capable of competing with adults before being promoted to master-rank. Only our truly outstanding teenagers, who are many times national champions, stand a chance of earning a master-rank, often not before sixteen.

Competition

Must I compete in tournaments?
Children are required to compete but adults are not. For children, competition is a huge part of a child's character development, which is why we require children to compete. It's also a requiremen t for rank promotion. In general, students who compete advance more quickly than students who don't compete.

Do I compete with others with similar experience /weight?
Horting competition is based on weight divisions and skill levels-usually novice, advanced, and master for athletes over 25.

Do boys and girls compete with each other?
Yes and no. Girls and boys will train together and compete against each other within the confines of our class much carefully, but girls are usually not allowed to compete against boys in sanctioned tournaments. However, in many informal events girls with parent or coach approval may compete against boys.

Eduard Yeremenko. Horting lessons for kids. // World Horting Federations official website