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Benefits
of Martial Arts Training For Kids
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by:
John Phung
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Admit it. When the going gets tough at home,
we’ve all plopped the kids in front of the television and breathed a
sigh of relief. Finally, we can get started on dinner, maybe check
email or sort that massive pile of laundry.
But when your five-year old yells at you “Mom, Kids Rule!” or your
ten-year old horrifies you with language that would make a sailor
blush, you realize there must be something amiss with what these
“family programs” really teach our kids. And sadly, its happening all
over the media today, from sports to cartoons, and our children are
learning things that we, as parents, vowed we would never teach them.
Old fashioned values like respect and self-discipline, seems to have
been forgotten, replaced by the dreaded “bling bling” pop culture of
today.
Just the thought of your angelic three-year old morphing into a
designer-clad, smart-mouthed, money-worshipping, me-obsessed, lay-about
is enough to make any parent consider that threatening military school
brochure, but there is a solution out there to consider.
Martial Arts training.
From Ninja Turtles to The Karate Kid
You and your kids have all seen the flying kicks, battle cries and
mighty chops of their favorite TV characters, as they beat the bad guys
to submission – but, you may ask, how on earth can these acts of
violence teach my child anything worthwhile?
First, know that what you see on television (save perhaps the Karate
Kid) is a far cry from what real martial arts are all about. The fact
is, martial arts training is based on non-violence.
Originating in Asia (mainly Japan, China and Korea, although Thailand
and Vietnam have their own practices as well), martial arts range from
a variety of types and styles, all of which are based on well-rounded,
moral teachings. The beauty of learning martial arts is that it
encompasses not just the physical aspect of the “sport”, but mental and
emotional lessons as well.
Comparing that to other kid’s activities and sports, where fierce
competitiveness and “winning at all costs” seems to be the order of the
day, it’s not surprising that many children grapple with issues of
self-esteem and misplaced aggression.
Now imagine your child actually learning valuable life lessons, skills
that he will take throughout life, laying the foundation for a happy,
well-adjusted and fulfilled adult life. If only karate for kids was
popular in the 70’s, when I was growing up!
The Advantages
• Karate, and other martial arts for kids, builds confidence and
self-esteem as well as self-discipline, respect, concentration and
courtesy.
• Many martial arts schools also offer leadership courses for kids, in
conjunction with their karate for kids programs, or similar lessons.
• Martial Arts is ideal for children who do not do well in team sports,
giving them the ability to flourish this activity, while combining
physical and mental practices.
• Many do not realize this, but it is a fact that martial arts training
are safer than most school sports.
• Children with special needs, such as ADD (Attention Deficit
Disorder), learning difficulties and hyperactivity are often
recommended to participate in martial arts for kids because of the
clear benefits in its structured training techniques.
Kung-Fu Master or Ninja Warrior?
Before you sign up Junior for the first martial arts class you see,
take some time to check out the different methods available, and match
it with what you know would suit your child best. This is a good way to
avoid any problems that may sprout from a conflict of your child’s
personality and the training techniques.
Is your little Zach a sensitive soul? Then maybe a class that doesn’t
center on sparring (full-on kicks and punches training) but rather,
slower, defensive maneuvers would fare better for him. Kids with an
aggressive streak, however, may prefer the more forceful moves and
thrive in competitive sparring.
Here’s a quick primer on the kid-friendly martial arts training you’re
likely to find:
Martial Arts From Japan
Karate
• Uses defensive and aggressive moves
• Centers on building strength and endurance
• Involves chops, punches, kicks, strikes, blocking and sparring
• May use weapons
Jujitsu
• Uses defensive and aggressive moves
• Involves lots of sparring
• Teaches a fair amount of weapons training
Aikido
• Uses a more “spiritual” and harmonious style in redirecting the
aggression of the attacker as the form of defense, using throws, pins,
rolls etc.
• Taught on the premise of disabling an aggressor without attacking,
through your individual inner energy
• Does not involve sparring or competitions
Judo
• Uses gentle, “wrestling-like” movements
• Considered one of the safest methods of martial arts
• Emphasizes physical control as well as mental development
• Engages in competitions
Martial Arts From China
Kung-Fu
• The generic term referring to Chinese martial arts with a variety of
styles
• Involves attack movements as well as defensive techniques
• Teaches kicks, punches, chops, throws, falls, grappling, katas, leg
sweeps and blows among others.
• Engages in sparring competitions
Martial Arts From Korea
Taekwondo
• Competitive in nature, involves techniques using elaborate footwork
and unique high kicks.
• Emphasizes strength, force and attack methods.
• Engages in lots of sparring and competitions.
Choosing The Right Instruction
If you have an idea of the type of martial arts class you’d like your
child to participate in, the next step would be to find the right
school. Finding the right class that not only matches your child’s and
your needs, in terms of teachers you feel comfortable with, the price,
facilities and so on, are all important factors.
Say you’ve found a local place that specializes in Karate for Kids.
What are the things you should look for?
1. Good Instructors: Check out their qualifications, teaching methods
and watch carefully how they interact with the other children. It
should be a fun learning experience!
2. Space and Safety: Obviously you would want to entrust your child in
as establishment that is safe, well-maintained, and clean with ample
space as well as decent facilities and equipment.
3. School Values: Different martial arts schools inevitably go by
different values, for instance, one kid’s karate class may handle
aggression in one way, while a judo class would have a different
approach. Take some time to observe which school’s ideals match your
family’s principles.
4. Prices and Schedules: Prices for martial arts training can vary
according to school and location, so make sure you the instruction you
choose represents fair value. Finding the most effective way to fit
martial arts training into your family’s lifestyle is also essential,
knowing what works best with your schedule and other activities.
Baby Blackbelts
Starting your child young in karate training is ideal (children as
young as the age of four are usually accepted, as it is also a good way
to hone fine motor skills), and lots of parents have found that in as
little as a year, their children who were involved in martial arts had
noticeably gained positive traits such as increased self-esteem,
respect and overall physical fitness.
Many parents also opt to join a martial arts training program
themselves, making it a great bonding experience for the entire family.
About the author:
Laura Saunders is a successful freelance writer, mother of two and a
martial arts practitioner who has written articles for http://www.best-karate-equipment.com,
your online guide to karate
uniforms, martial
arts sparring equipment, and karate
training equipment.
Circulated by Article Emporium
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