Is Martial Arts right for children?
My four year old son graduating from his junior brown belt into the big kid classes.
In these times of computer games and childhood obesity, martial arts for children are a great way to keep them active and get them away from the screen. With crime always on the increase and incidences of bullying in schools, knowing how to defend themselves and keep themselves safe is essential. Learning a martial art gives children many things; confidence, self awareness and self discipline are all things they will learn in a well run martial arts center.
Although martial arts can teach children how to defend themselves, it is really good at teaching them self control and self confidence. If your child has a difficulty controlling their temper or has low self esteem, learning a martial art can actually help them gain some control and gives them a sense of achievement. An anxious child may need some encouragement to try it out but they will benefit from the structure and sameness of the classes. Children will be encouraged to make eye contact with their trainers, to answer when asked a question and to respond respectfully to their head teacher.
The first thing you will need to do when getting your child involved in martial arts is pick a style that they will enjoy. With many different styles to choose from, it can be a very difficult choice to make. Among the most popular for children are Karate, Taekwondo, Judo, Muay Thai, and Jiu-Jitsu. When making the decision, you should go a little bit by where your child's interests lie, such as punching and kicking, or ground grappling and submission. Ask for personal recommendations if you have several training centers nearby, some may be better with children, while other centers may be geared towards adults.
Once you have a style or two in mind, you’ll need to start checking out the local martial arts centers and dojos. If you live in a big city, you should find you have a lot to choose from. Ask around.
Unfortunately if you live in a smaller town or rural area, you may be very limited on the choices available for yourself and your children.
Although rural areas and smaller towns may be limited in choice and facilities, what they offer is normally among the most popular styles of martial arts. The head instructor should be a black belts and above, with the highest ranked students often helping to instruct classes. If class numbers are small, the instructors and student teachers can spend a lot of hands on time with the kids to help them improve in their weakest areas.
When you decide to enroll your child in martial arts, go and have a look at the dojo or observe a class before committing. You want your child to be in a class that is goal focused, and you want them to have a well qualified teacher who knows what he or she is doing. The environment is also important, the dojo should be open and welcoming, facilities and equipment should be clean and in good repair,and any staff should be friendly and open to answering your questions. Make sure there is a place for parents to view the class from when it is in session.
When it comes to children and their future, we all want the best for our kids. Martial arts is a great way for them to start. A martial art can help a child develop in essential areas, including self control and responsibility, physical skills such a balance, as well as upper body and core strength. A child who exercises regularly will be able to concentrate in school better. In a well run martial arts center, your child will come to feel like one of the family and it will become a place they feel safe and at ease, with the older students acting as mentors. The longer a child studies a martial art, the more benefits they will enjoy. Martial arts can be expensive, but they are a great investment for parents and children.
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