Martial arts have been practiced all around the world for thousands of years. They are an ancient method used to train your mind, body and spirit to act as one. Every hour training is a good investment and the benefits of doing so are incredible.
Teaching martial arts to kids is very different than teaching to adults. Their classes need to have activities and games incorporated to theirs so they can enjoy themselves, while keeping their focus and burn that extra energy. These classes provide their mind and body many benefits that will help them in every sphere of their lives. Here are, in my opinion, the major benefits for kids learning martial arts:
Discipline: A Martial arts schools is usually a very structured environment. It’s members, teachers and students, are expected to follow it’s own set of rules and customs. Whether it’s the traditional bow to addressing their teacher using a specific title, the students will learn to follow and acknowledge them. This discipline will translate in all aspects of their lives, from school or work to household chores. It’s the teacher’s responsibility to make sure his students know and understand these instructions and to guide them through the learning process.
Respect: Martial arts are all about respect and through them, students learn to respect their training area, their peers, their instructor and most importantly themselves. Punching, kicking, throwing and locking are all secondary to the respect that is shown from the moment you walk into a dojo. During class, kids learn to accept and follow instructions given to them by someone filling the role of an authority figure. They will learn that you can have an authority figure and instructions to follow while still learning and enjoying yourself.
Confidence: Living with a low level of self-esteem and confidence can impact many areas of a person’s life. From decision making to socializing with other people, someone who suffers from it is more likely to be faced with depression, loneliness, isolation, anxiety and many other negative effects. For these reasons, it’s important to provide kids with the tools and resources to overcome them. Martial arts helps kids believe in themselves by increasing their self-confidence and self-esteem through accomplishment and hard work. The kids learn to stand up for themselves, push through their limits and to trust in their abilities.
Exercise: Whether it’s exercising through games or practicing techniques, kids will not only have the chance to burn extra energy, but they will also get in better shape and strengthen their body. While training and learning martial arts, by discovering and pushing further their own personal limits, they will significantly improve their athleticism, strength, endurance, coordination and mobility. Warmups composed of exercises like jumping jacks, stretches and the movements of the martial art itself often challenge the child’s muscles and cardiovascular system, making them stronger with time. Things like coordination and body to space awareness will make them better at everyday activities such as hiking, running, going down the slide.
Learn self defense: The National Center For Educational Statistics wrote that over 20% of the kids are victims of bullying and another study by stopbullying.gov wrote that over 70% of kids in the U.S. will witness it. These situations can happen anywhere so it important to give them the necessary tools to protect and guide them through these situations. Also, according to a survey from stopbullying.gov, about 30% of kids admitted having bullied others. One of the many great things about martial arts is that it teaches kids not to ever resort to violence, but only when they are attacked, and there is no other option. They will learn how to protect themselves in a physical altercation.
Goal reaching: Many martial arts disciplines and schools use a progression system, the most commonly known is the colored belt system. A belt system is a great way to introduce kids to the concept of having goals and working hard to obtain them. To be promoted, they need to put the work in by showing up and repeating the techniques until they reach the required level. According to livestrong.com, Martial arts help instill mental focus in the child, giving him the ability to concentrate on a task and see it through to its conclusion. Since not everyone gets promoted at the same time, it also teaches the kids to support, help and be happy for their comrades who get promoted, even if they are not.
Support: Since not everyone has the luxury of having the support needed at school or even at home, academies can help to fill this void by providing a safe and welcoming space. Even if in class everyone is treated the same, their lives outside could be very different so the students will find in their instructor a person to talk or look up to. I also believe that this gives them a positive image of an authority figure. By having such a positive relationship with the kids, the instructor helps them take their mind off any stress, negativity or problems they could be living with outside the academy.
Social activity: For some kids, it can be very hard to enter or fit in a group. By joining a martial arts school, the kids are able to have a place where they belong, bond with others and enjoy themselves while learning. In their classes, from playing games to practicing the techniques, they will always be working with partners and will develop teamwork. In a time where we have a very digitally influenced lifestyle, they will learn to bond with their new friends in person.
References:
Recent Comments