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 huge 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 perceive there must be something amiss with what these "family programs" admittedly 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, supplanted by the dreaded "bling bling" pop culture of today.
Japanese School Girls
Just the plan of your angelic three-year old morphing into a designer-clad, smart-mouthed, money-worshipping, me-obsessed, lay-about is adequate to make any parent consider that threatening soldiery 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 great chops of their beloved 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 maybe 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 collection of types and styles, all of which are based on well-rounded, moral teachings. The charm of learning martial arts is that it encompasses not just the bodily aspect of the "sport", but thinking 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 dream your child admittedly learning principal 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 beloved in the 70's, when I was growing up!
The Advantages
o Karate, and other martial arts for kids, builds reliance and self-esteem as well as self-discipline, respect, attentiveness and courtesy.
o Many martial arts schools also offer leadership courses for kids, in conjunction with their karate for kids programs, or similar lessons.
o Martial Arts is ideal for children who do not do well in team sports, giving them the capability to flourish this activity, while combining bodily and thinking practices.
o Many do not perceive this, but it is a fact that martial arts training are safer than most school sports.
o Children with extra needs, such as Add (Attention Deficit Disorder), learning difficulties and hyperactivity are often recommended to share in martial arts for kids because of the clear benefits in its structured training techniques.
Kung-Fu scholar or Ninja Warrior?
Before you sign up Junior for the first martial arts class you see, take some time to check out the separate 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 small Zach a sensitive soul? Then maybe a class that doesn't town on sparring (full-on kicks and punches training) but rather, slower, defensive maneuvers would fare best for him. Kids with an aggressive streak, however, may prefer the more forceful moves and thrive in competing sparring.
Here's a quick primer on the kid-friendly martial arts training you're likely to find:
Martial Arts From Japan
Karate
o Uses defensive and aggressive moves
o Centers on construction compel and endurance
o Involves chops, punches, kicks, strikes, blocking and sparring
o May use weapons
Jujitsu
o Uses defensive and aggressive moves
o Involves lots of sparring
o Teaches a fair amount of weapons training
Aikido
o Uses a more "spiritual" and harmonious style in redirecting the aggression of the attacker as the form of defense, using throws, pins, rolls etc.
o Taught on the facility of disabling an aggressor without attacking, through your personel inner energy
o Does not involve sparring or competitions
Judo
o Uses gentle, "wrestling-like" movements
o carefully one of the safest methods of martial arts
o Emphasizes bodily control as well as thinking development
o Engages in competitions
Martial Arts From China
Kung-Fu
o The generic term referring to Chinese martial arts with a collection of styles
o Involves attack movements as well as defensive techniques
o Teaches kicks, punches, chops, throws, falls, grappling, katas, leg sweeps and blows among others.
o Engages in sparring competitions
Martial Arts From Korea
Taekwondo
o competing in nature, involves techniques using justify footwork and unique high kicks.
o Emphasizes strength, force and attack methods.
o 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 share in, the next step would be to find the right school. Seeing 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 foremost 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 preparation 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 separate values, for instance, one kid's karate class may handle aggression in one way, while a judo class would have a separate approach. Take some time to discover which school's ideals match your family's principles.
4. Prices and Schedules
Prices for martial arts training can vary agreeing to school and location, so make sure you the education you choose represents fair value. Seeing 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 commonly accepted, as it is also a good way to hone fine motor skills), and lots of parents have found that in as small as a year, their children who were complex in martial arts had noticeably gained unavoidable traits such as increased self-esteem, respect and comprehensive bodily fitness.
Many parents also opt to join a martial arts training schedule themselves, production it a great bonding perceive for the whole family.
Benefits of Martial Arts Training For Kids
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