If you are a parent, we are certain that your child’s health and development are among the highest priorities in your life. There is so much you can do, so much conflicting advice on what are the best things a kid should do to grow up happy, healthy and equipped with all the right skills to tackle life.
We don’t have all the answers, but we are certain that training in martial arts is hands down one of the best practices for your children, let us explain why.
What are martial arts?
Karate? Taekwondo? Hapkido? Kicking? Punching? – Lifestyle, Mindset, Character-Building
For those that know martial arts only from pop culture, we would like to explain that it’s more than just kicking, punching and fighting.
For many, it’s a lifestyle, a mindset, and a deep philosophy.
Martial arts are often centuries old organized systems of practices and traditions that are practiced for physical, psychological and spiritual development and for learning self-defence skills. They have been a very important part of human history and continue to bring immense benefits to its practitioners to this day. The physical practice develops strength, coordination and endurance while building character, boosting self-confidence and self-control.
Another popular misconception is that it’s just for adults. This can’t be further from the truth. Unlike most sports and practices, martial arts don’t just train the body in isolation, but also the mind in equal measure. Martial arts as a solo journey encourages self-improvement stronger than team sports but also encompasses benefits of teamwork through training with, and supporting, other students in their journey.
Benefits of martial arts for children
Kids Martial Arts: Focus, Self-Defence, Fitness, Respect, Discipline & Teamwork
Like with everything else, if you put in the time, you will see the results. Martial arts are no different. Besides the mass of anecdotal evidence, many of the benefits for children and adults alike have been researched.
Let’s inspect the most prominent traits you will see in your children if they start practicing martial arts.
Focus
The attention span of everyone is declining with the rise of technology and this is even truer for kids. The complex nature of martial arts movements and principles requires a level of focus and concentration that will undoubtedly improve the child’s focus and discipline. That’s why it’s better to start early, so they can use this focus in every area of their development.
Self-Defence and Environmental Awareness
Being aware in your surroundings and being able to defend yourself is one of our main pillars at Eagle Martial Arts. After all, martial arts were developed for this exact purpose. The cold truth is that it’s inevitable that at some point someone may bully your child and when this moment comes, their martial arts skills will be invaluable not only to be able to physically react, but even more importantly to resolve the situation calmly and without violence.
Fitness
Every martial arts consists of complex movements that mobilize the entire body. Training properly, with intent and focus, will develop strength, mobility, agility, stamina and balance. You will witness your child becoming stronger every week. They will start using their bodies functionally and you can be sure they will stay fit, healthy and active.
Respect
Respect to authority, elders and hierarchy is pivotal in traditional martial arts. There traits are ever disappearing in today’s world, but in martial arts they have not been lost. Your child will learn to be well mannered and respectful not only to the instructors but also to others around them. Furthermore, they will learn respect and appreciation for their own abilities.
Discipline and Teamwork
The environment in a martial arts school with its atmosphere of respect and honour inspires these values even in the most problematic of kids. The young ones learn that concentrating on a single task will inevitably lead to good results. All the challenges in the dojo/dojang teach problem solving that lend itself perfectly in the day-to-day life.
Despite being a solo activity, martial arts also build a very strong bond between practitioners because they face the same challenges, help each other overcome them and push each other to become better.
Eagle Martial Arts program for kids
Coordination, Behaviour, Self-Control, Discipline, Respect, Self-Respect
By now, you are probably convinced of the undeniable benefits a child can get by training martial arts. Here at Eagle Martial Arts, we take pride in developing a comprehensive curriculum that is specifically tailored to each age group in a way that helps the children grow as both martial artists and people while also being a lot of fun.
Starting as early as 3 years old, your little one can become an Eaglet at EMA. They will develop vital motor skills, coordination and well-mannered behaviour while having a lot of fun. The 3 and 4 year olds grow up every day and it’s important to satisfy their curiosity with meaningful and interesting tasks. We will help you do that while kick starting your child’s growth.
The next age group is the Little Eagles. We created a teaching method that we call “edu-tainment” for the 5- and 6-year-olds. In a fun and interesting manner, we teach our Little Eagles 8 pivotal life skills and traits:
- Focus
- Memory
- Coordination
- Self-control
- Fitness
- Discipline
- Teamwork
The oldest children up to 13 years of age fall in to the Junior Martial Arts category. Here, we focus on incorporating all the previously learned skills in a holistic self-development approach. Children start learning more effective self-defence and control techniques. We also emphasize many verbal, psychological and verbal anti bully techniques.
The road from junior leads to teen and adult and quite possibly a lifetime journey in martial arts, rewarded by unwavering self-confidence, robust health and body and friendships for life.
Martial arts are perfect for children
Focus, Strength, Self-Improvement
It’s safe to say martial arts are perfect activity for kids. It takes commitment and consistency, but the rewards are well worth it. Guide your child in the early stages and it will thank you for it later in life.
If you feel inspired by the promise of focus, discipline and strength, maybe you will start your own martial arts journey alongside your child and walk the path of self-improvement together. There are classes at EMA suitable for every age and gender.
Studies on benefits of martial arts:
1. Psychosocial Benefits of the Martial Arts: Myth or Reality? A Literature Review
3. Health benefits of hard martial arts in adults: a systematic review
4. Getting Fit With Martial Arts
