The current trend of enrolling kids into various extracurricular activities like dance, music and martial arts is quite common. The busy work schedule seldom provides an opportunity for the parents to spend time with their kids. And to keep the kids busy they tend to enroll them into various activities. Many enroll their kids, especially boys, into martial arts classes like karate, judo, kung fu and many more. However, the question to ponder as parents is, Do we actually understand the purpose behind putting our children into martial arts? Is it because we really understand the benefits that our kids can reap from it or is it because we want them to be busy and have time for ourselves?
Well, whether youre aware or not, martial arts, as a physical fitness activity, has enormous benefits for kids, from making them fit to boosting their self-esteem and eventually helping them achieve their personal and professional goals in life.
Here are 4 reasons why youd want to consider martial arts for your kid.
There are loads of advantages that your kids can derive from martial arts; however, the focus of this post is on 4 prime benefits.
Self confidence
Learning as such develops self-confidence within kids. In martial arts, kids mingle with other children of varied culture and ethnicity. They try to learn from each other and develop respect towards one and another. Small measurable goals in martial arts class such as achieving a greenbelt, black belt and so on makes the child strive towards the goal. The training helps them overcome small challenges in order to achieve their goals. Success in achieving the goals makes them feel good and sense of self-confidence gradually gets built in. They also learn to develop good listening skills and a sense of team spirit which boosts their self-esteem. With this self-worth foundation they easily move and get along with kids and adults from all walks of life.
Personal defence
With the increase in violence, physical abuse and bullies in schools and outside, self-defence training is but a mandatory factor to consider. Martial arts like karate, kung fu come in handy at such times. Kids trained in martial arts gain self-confidence and knowledge that they can easily sense any physical harm they may be prone to in public places, and can implement the self-defence technique to resolve a violent conflict.
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Self-discipline
Like in any form of art, be it kathak or bharatanatyam, that requires an appropriate attire to be followed, so do kids in karate or kung fu have to. A specific uniform, the need to be on time for the class, the requirement to work as a team, the attitude of developing listening ear towards peers and master; with all these habit, a sense of self discipline is inculcated within kids. These small values culminate to moral values that kids follow when they grow. These values go a long way to help them achieve measured success in both personal as well as professional life.
Physical fitness
Enrolling kids into martial arts is sure to get their way out of the sedentary lifestyle, wherein they spend hours together in front of the TV and other electronic gadgets. Martial arts exercises work on joints and muscles, jumping and stretches. Thus, regular practice can prove to be an incremental improvement towards fitness of your kids. Moreover the intense workouts during such classes allow the kids to relieve their stress and gain mental peace and stay calm.
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As we can see, any kind of martial art does have its enormous benefits for kids. The increased level of physical fitness, boost in self-esteem and team working skills all help your kid to achieve success in academics as well a other social aspects of life. Now what is the appropriate age and what kind of martial arts can your kid take up, would be the next question youd have after all that reading. Well, advice and guidance from your local gym trainer or a martial arts master in your area could help you decide the best for your child. Don’t forget to give this article a like and share it ahead for people to know more. Feel free to give us a buzz in the comments section below.