What is Martial Arts, and How Can it Help You as a Parent?
~Coach Clarenza~
Many people have heard about martial arts before, but many do not know how expansive and exciting the world of martial arts is! As a parent, it is possible that you’ve seen specific martial arts programs when exploring activities for your children, but maybe you aren’t entirely sure what martial arts are and the many lessons that they can teach your children.
To begin, martial art is a broad term that describes a variety of self-defense sports that originated from many East Asian countries such as Japan and Korea. Some of the most popular martial arts include Taekwondo, karate, kung fu, and numerous others. If you enroll your child in a martial arts program, they will be a part of a community that teaches discipline, respect, and confidence.
Many martial arts involve teaching self-defense which can make children of all ages feel braver and more confident in their bodies. Many parents may believe that self-defense can promote violence- however, martial arts teaches the opposite. Many martial arts teach children to have self-control, and many of the lessons taught in martial arts revolve around de-escalating and problem-solving. Moreover, martial arts involve being active and moving around. Not only is this exciting for children (especially those who have sat at school all day!), but your child will also improve their fitness. There are many benefits to keeping children active, some of which are reducing anxiety, depression, and risks of diseases. Overall, martial arts provide children with a fun, engaging activity that promotes them to be physically fit!
Discipline and respect go hand-in-hand in martial arts. Many popular martial arts, such as taekwondo and karate, have a belt system where students will go up a rank and receive a new colored belt if they have demonstrated effort, ability, and respect. This new rank or belt idea is enticing and exciting for your child! However, your child will quickly learn that they will not go up a rank if they are disrespectful. Respect starts at the beginning of martial arts classes, where students bow to show respect to their instructors.
Additionally, your child will learn the importance of using respectful language, such as saying, “yes, sir,” and “yes, ma’am.” Children will also have to develop the discipline to go up a rank. Children will, in many cases, have to practice certain positions, moves, and routines to complete tests to rank up a belt. This inspires children to work hard and be engaged in lessons. Consequently, martial arts lessons will teach children the important skills of discipline and respect.
All the lessons that your child learns in a martial arts classroom will not stop when they leave class. At home, your child will be more respectful and confident, as well as numerous benefits from the physical activity that martial arts provide, such as higher body coordination, lower amounts of stress, and even better focus in school. These benefits benefit your child, but you will also experience less sass, disrespect, and laziness! No matter your child’s age, they can develop many important skills while having fun!