By Michael Mountain of Mountain Martial Arts & Wellness Center located in Carmel, IN.
While team sports for children offer a myriad of benefits for your child –
Here are 5 reasons to get your child involved in martial arts classes even if they are already playing a sport or …why Martial Arts might be a better choice for your child rather than playing a sport. 5 Reasons Why every child Should do martial arts!
-
Self-defense – Bullying continues to be a problem for children. Kids have to deal with it at school, on their I-phones and on social media. It doesn’t end there as teens and young adults have to navigate through high school and university, avoiding the perils that await on their facebook page or just around the corner from bullies, predators and opportunistic malevolent individuals. A properly taught martial arts class teaches the prevention model of awareness and avoidance. It also focuses on self-defense so that your child or teen does not become a victim of bullying or attempted rape. More than that, martial arts teaches your child to walk and talk with confidence so that they don’t present as an easy mark for bullies. It also provides your child with an environment for them to become more resilient and emotionally strong so there interpretation of life is empowering rather than seeing themselves as a potential victim. Their emotional strength allows them to rise above engaging with the cyber bullies or to even participate in the petty squabbles that can begin these situations in the first place. With the right training…mental, emotional and physical strength becomes the hall mark of the young martial artist.
-
Character development – In sports, often the focus is on competition and winning. On one hand.. discussions on sportsmanship and how to be a humble winner and grateful loser are practically unheard of these days, while on the other hand… participation awards are taking the place of work ethic that is founded on effort and attitude. Martial arts is completely different in this regard. We do not believe that true martial arts is about competing against others but is infact about competing against oneself and helping others. Self defense provides the inherent challenges that with the right direction and intention can foster and nurture; effort, attitude, respect, focus, concentration, humility, discipline and confidence! All character traits that will end challenges at home, create the work ethic and set your child up for a life of success and happiness!
-
Personal Growth – The amazing thing about martial arts is that it provides one of the few environments that kids, teens and adults can actually focus on themselves. When you are competing you are focused on others; the competition, executing the game plan, your team mates and winning. That is why one of the benefits to playing sports is team work and learning to be a team player. Yet, we all know kids that are successful in sports but in many cases it doesn’t role over into academic performance or social confidence. The problem is that kids and teens these days are competing in everything; in sports, in school and academics, for university acceptance, and for jobs and promotions. They are so stressed about performance and outcome that they never focus on the themselves long enough to develop the character traits, work ethic and resilience that would make the entire process easier. In martial arts students are taught that the primary intention of their training is personal growth, character development and self-defense. Everyone, even kids, need some time to self evaluate; to know where they are and to know who they want to become. Martial arts classes provide that self discovery, and create an opportunity for your child to grow and develop that greater sense of self.
-
Total body control – While each sport develops certain motor skills specific to the sport, many times it is not comprehensive in its neuro-developmental benefits. Some sports develop hand-eye coordination, some develop endurance, some develop strength, and some are limited to just a single skill like swinging a bat. The skills developed are all very sport specific. Symmetrical Motor coordination, balance, strength, endurance, speed are all important in the developing child’s nervous and muscular systems. Martial arts classes is one of the few activities that brings all of these skills into play in every moment of class. A properly taught class also places great importance in the attention to details as it is the small details that makes all the difference in technique and one’s ability to defend one’s-self. With the right direction, that attention to detail also roles over into all areas of life because we teach that attention to details is a key to success. Attention to details can and will effect school, homework, relationships and career. On a practical note for all ages as it relates to self-defense; in order to control someone else you must have complete control of yourself…so total body control with a focus on attention to details becomes one of our primary missions as it leads to self defense mastery.
-
Self-mastery – The greatest difference between martial arts and sports is that martial arts will positively impact all areas of a martial arts student’s life. That is because positively affecting all areas of one’s life is the primary focus of our martial arts coaching. Self mastery is our intention for every student. We don’t focus on outcomes, promotions or getting a black belt as a destination…we focus on character development, personal growth, total body control and knowledge on self defense as our ultimate destination. Self mastery encompasses all of these areas and it is self-mastery that drives every lesson in our school and what true martial arts is all about. There is no growth or change without challenge or struggle. Self-defense and martial arts training provides the ongoing challenges that lead to greater levels of self mastery. From that, greater levels of self expression and the courage to take action are expressed. Martial arts…it is a way of life…not a sport. There you have it…5 reasons why every child should do martial arts…give them the gift of self mastery!
Children’s Classes for more information