Warm up game to practice knee walking, which firms the body and increases awareness.
How is it done?
One or two participants from the group have to catch all the other children. They all move in shikko (walking on the feet and knees). The person that is caught has to stand still in a roof/downward facing dog position. Another player who isn't caught yet slides under the bridge, thus rescuing the person so he or she can run away. The game is finished when all the children are caught.
What is it good for?
Apart from being a good warm up activity, this game is a fun practice of shikko (i.e., knee walking or samurai walking). Shikko walk increases strength and flexibility in the legs and hips. The rotational movement required to walk in shikko is particularly good for getting used to engaging the hips properly when moving and is very important for developing a strong awareness of one's center of gravity (hara).
By working as a team, children develop important skills like problem solving and developing awareness of their surroundings.