Children’s Class Times

WHY CHILDREN SHOULD TAKE MARTIAL ARTS

by Master Keith Mazza

There are so many reasons why training in the martial arts is a great activity for people of all ages, but especially children. Throughout Asia, martial arts are taught to school children as physical education.

Self-Defense

Training in martial arts is like insurance. You hope your children never need it, but you’re happy to know that they can protect themselves when the need arises.

Discipline

We all know the importance of self-discipline. Martial arts are known for their ability to create discipline in children. This discipline comes in the form of focus, concentration and respect. These are all skills taught through martial arts training.  This concentration and focus carries over to other parts of life, including home and school.

Self-Confidence

You probably see it all the time. The self-confident person seems to get all the breaks. Martial arts can give you or your child the self-confidence you need to succeed.

Fitness and Fun

They go hand in hand with martial arts. One of the reasons why people quit fitness programs is that they get bored.

Martial arts are exercises that children, adolescents, adults and seniors can practice regularly. It is an activity that can continue throughout life. Children won’t outgrow the ability or desire to practice martial arts as they get older. It is a lifestyle rather than an exercise.

The social skills taught in physical education classes can also be enhanced through martial arts. Because of the nature of martial arts, people often find that practicing martial arts requires concentration and focus and these skills carry over to other parts of life as well, including school work and later, jobs and family. Additionally, martial arts tend to focus on respect (both for self and others) which is a great asset for any school child and will give the child the skills needed to cooperate, take turns and follow rules appropriately.

Some people worry that teaching martial arts will foster a sense of violence and give bullies the skills they need to continue harming others. Martial arts do the opposite. A common characteristic of bullies is that they lack impulse control and also don’t know how to manage their anger. Martial arts can solve that because it helps reduce stress, it improves concentration and control and it teaches respect of others. In this sense, it also helps children who are bullied because it gives them the confidence they need to combat bullying before it starts.

These are just a few reasons why martial arts’ training is so important for children of all ages. Our world is changing and we need to help our children prepare for the challenges that come their way in life. Having discipline, social skills, respect for self and others and very important in today’s world, self-defense training, will give them the confidence they need to succeed in all areas of life. Children need a positive outlet. Martial arts fulfill that need.