Commando Joes'
Commando Joes’ was founded by Mike Hamilton in 2009 and is the largest military-style fitness and educational teaching service for schools across the UK. The idea is that the course will see an improvement in children’s behaviour, attendance and attainment by teaching them discipline and team skills through fun and exciting exercises that will get the children motivated.
We caught up with Becky Turner, who is one of the instructors for Commando Joes’ known as ‘Commando Jane,’ and she told us a little more about the military-style fitness course.
Commando Joes’ is a successful military style fitness course- Could you tell us a little more about this.
We go to schools, primary schools and secondary schools, all over the country, we try and get into wherever we can. We look to improve attainment, behaviour and attendance within different schools using fun military styled activities, exercises, team building challenges, and tasks that reinforce all those different areas.
What is the aim of the course? What do they hope to achieve?
It’s to look at attainment, behaviour and attendance within the schools that we work in, so if we can improve those three areas in the schools I think we have fulfilled our aim that the company has.
The motto of the course is ‘No Child Left Behind’- What do you mean by this?
We mean that no matter the child, no matter the learning ability, no matter the physical ability, or emotional background we will help them through every stage of what we do, they’re never ‘left behind’ as we always help them through an activity. Commando James, Commando Joe, all of us, join in the activities to make them feel more comfortable in our sessions.
You are one of the instructors for Commando Joes. How did you become part of the team?
I have a coaching background, so I have experience with kids, so I think it worked well with what the company wanted.
Do you find it easy adapting to your role as a school fitness instructor?
Yes, it’s good. I have experience working with children. And I feel that if you have that empathy and that understanding of the child themselves, then they can relate to you and have that trust in you. They are willing to put in 100%, but it’s just getting them on your side and to make them understand that you aren’t there to give them a hard time, but to help them out and support them.
Becky Turner-Commando Joes' Instructor
You use to play Basketball for England. Does the motivation and dedication you gained from this helped you in your role at Commando Joes.
Yes definitely and I think it inspires a lot of the kids. If you give an introduction to the kids about yourself and mention what you have achieved, then it’s quite inspirational if they think that we’re putting our own time to help them no matter what their backgrounds are. I think this gives them that interest and inspires and motivates to achieve more with themselves.
Is it inspiring to see children getting involved in the activities and putting all their effort into it?
Definitely! Anyone can tell walking into a school the difference between each child. There are setbacks and barriers to learning especially when they don’t engage in an everyday school lesson. Once you get them into your session to work on a team building exercise, then the quiet ones who don’t usually speak out and who are less confident they then speak out. And it’s heart-warming to see that they are engaging into the activities.
How do you find the balance of keeping the children entertained but maintaining the idea of discipline through fitness?
It works quite well in schools. They are not use to the extent of discipline that we can bring into the lessons. But depending where you are and what age group you are working with, some children they thrive to impress you. They don’t see you as a teacher they see you more to help rather than to hinder.
Mike Hamilton who is the founder of ‘Commando Joes’, tried his luck on Dragons Dens, do you think they will be kicking themselves now as they didn’t invest in his business?
Yes definitely! I think I definitely would be. We are growing at a rapid rate. If they ever look back, which I’m sure they will, as Manchester is a big area. They can see us getting bigger across the country. So who wouldn’t kick themselves!
How is Mike to work with? He must keep you all motivated with his enthusiastic ways!
Yes he is very, very enthusiastic, he helps us out and they are a very supportive company. They do their best to help you if you have any issues. Mike is great to work for, he respects everybody, it’s good.
What makes you different from an average P.E lesson?
We are not necessarily curriculum based, we do incorporate the curriculum into our sessions as much as we can, but we are not necessarily just based on curriculum. We’ve got the military background, military intervention, military slogans and the military words for children to understand it. With us it seems to be a little more fun, more fitness to it. It’s different every week.
Do you hope after the children have experienced the military style activity that they will continue to carry on sports and exercise?
I hope so, we cover quite a lot of sport, but even if it’s not sport specific we do a lot of games that they could incorporate into the playground on their lunch break. We do games that they could take on board themselves which are simple enough for them to run themselves. The children realise that through exercise and team-building it’s something that can help them. I think children would enjoy it so would want to carry it on afterwards.
What can parents and teachers do to help their children keep fit?
I think it’s every day to day things, like running around in the playground, getting them to do the little things in class, such as handing out books and papers. We don’t have to give them a circuit to run to make them realise that they are doing fitness. Sometimes if they don’t realise that they are doing it, then they will happily do it.
Can parents and teachers get involved in ‘Commando Joes’ fitness regime or simply help out?
Yes definitely. They can join in with the sessions, they can join in with ‘wake and shake’ in the morning. If the kids see their parents and teachers joining in, then they are more likely to do it themselves. A lot of the Commandos do after school team building session for the staff. So yeah we do a lot with the staff and parents if they are willing to do it.
What is your opinion on schools and teachers who don’t think that ‘Commando Joes’ is the answer?
When it’s a new intervention it’s difficult to see it in their schools and change their ways. When you hear the word military a lot of people go into complete shut down, but if they take their time to learn more about it and watch and oversee, then maybe they will understand what we do and how we can help. Over a period of time they will be able to see definite improvements.
Tagged in Parenting