During summertime, one of the popular courses that parents prefer for their kids is Martial Arts class. While contact sports like basketball is widely picked by teenagers, martial arts class has been slowly gaining popularity in recent years as well.
Of course, for parents, there are so many karate classes to choose from. Among the well-known martial arts are Taekwondo, Kung Fu, Judo, and Karate. These martial arts training have dojos everywhere. If parents are resourceful enough, they can find a martial arts dojo just near them.
With all these variations and types of karate classes, I supposed the most kid’s friendly is Karate. Although just like any martial arts that involve intricate moves, instructions in doing karate are much easier to break down so that kids can follow and replicate the movement.
Kids karate lessons also comprise a lot of exercises. Kids taking karate lessons would surely find themselves doing physical exercises but in a fun and enjoyable manner. Moreover, they can also start learning simple self defence.
While attending martial arts training, Karate Class for that matter will help your kid maintain a healthy and fit physical well-being, there are many advantages that your child will gain from learning and involving in Karate Classes.
Of all the benefits kids karate classes can bring into your child’s life, leadership is one of the tops on the list. If you think about it, don’t you agree that all of our life skills (discipline, respect, focus, resilience, etc) combine into one attribute: LEADERSHIP.
Becoming a Leader through Kids Karate Lessons
Enrolling your kid in karate kids martial arts classes is the first step for him or her to develop a sense of leadership. You may ask, how? In learning traditional karate or any other martial arts, there are intangible things that involve. Among these intangibles is character building.
While most of the time karate is considered physical training, throughout the course of learning, your kid will develop skills and abilities that will help him or her mold into a better person. Attending karate classes will definitely help your kid shape his personality and he might just show the promise of being a leader.
As they said, every child has the potential to become a leader. But not every kid discovers the said potential because of the limitations in opportunities for them to develop this kind of mindset and character.
Sense of leadership requires certain exposures. It is not automatic. For your kid to have this character (of being a good leader), he or she should have the tendency to be helpful. The child should have this unconscious effort of helping his fellow kid whenever the situation calls for it.
Take for instance, during his karate class your child is sharing his knowledge with his mates despite the fact that he is also struggling to be an orange belter or a second-degree blue belt. In this scenario, what’s important is the desire to help and lead others.
Most of the children who have enrolled in our martial arts lessons have become excellent leaders over the years. This is because they are given the chance or opportunity to shape up this leadership quality. Attending martial arts classes is one of the best exposures that our kids could have.
It’s true that most were shy on the get-go, but once they focused on achieving their goals and having a ‘Black Belt Attitude’, their leadership qualities came into play.
Here are some proven ways on how kids karate lessons can develop your child’s leadership skills:
Be confident.
Great leaders believe in themselves and resist peer pressure. The praise and recognition children receive in a good martial arts kids program truly help build their self-confidence. Small achievements mean a lot to most of the kids. Whether they perfect a certain technique or follow instructions better, these trivial steps in the child’s progression towards the next belt means a lot to them, and hence, should be celebrated. As an adult, we should be more appreciative and less critical of our kids.
Be positive and proactive.
Nobody follows a leader with a negative attitude, that is for sure. Even as adults, we gravitate toward positive thinkers and we love to surround ourselves with people who are less toxic and proactive in dealing with difficulties in life.
By enrolling them into kids’ karate lessons, they will develop this kind of attitude, a can-do attitude. Eventually, this boldness and positivity will rub off on their fellow kids.
Furthermore, they will learn to be more positive in taking their lapses and mistakes. Having a good disposition early in life will help the kids develop a healthy coping mechanism when they get older.
Negative thinking has no place in our Focus Martial Arts Brisbane club. As you know, a leader not only leads but also inspires others to have a positive outlook.
Learn how to communicate better.
Kids nowadays days are bent on communicating with others. Because of the digital age, with the help of iPad and gadgets, kids are now more inclined into screens rather than sharing a laugh or a conversation with other kids and adults alike. This is why as parents, you should encourage your kids to get interested in hobbies that involve physical activities and socializing.
Signing up your little ones and teenagers in a good martial arts kids program will help them learn to raise their hands if they want to explain something to a large group or to participate in activities that will require them to communicate. A karate class for instance is a conducive venue for your children to be eloquent in expressing themselves.
On top of encouraging children to come out from their shells and how to get comfortable in trying to explain things in front of a class, they also learn the value of taking turns and playing by the rules. These are some of the stuff they learn in martial arts schools — that if everyone feels like they are treated fairly, the entire class is happy.
Aside from helping them armed with the confidence to speak, they will also acquire the value of respect. By listening well, children can develop open-mindedness and tolerance of other peoples’ opinions — which is a mark of a great leader.
Goal setting.
To be a leader, it’s not enough to have a big vision. While that’s a great start, you also need to set goals and act to achieve that grand vision. You have to be goal-oriented. You have to be focused and organized whenever you set a goal or plan.
To shape your kid to be goal-oriented, he or she needs to have exposure to this kind of environment. In martial arts classes, every student is encouraged to attain a certain level. That’s why later on they are required to undergo grading and reach belting. By attending karate class, your kid will slowly absorb this type of culture or norm.
Creating checklists is another way to help your kid be organized and get accustomed to goal setting. This would also assist them in working their way through lists of techniques needed for their next grading. By modeling this kind of system to children, they will learn to manage their goals and the time frame on how and when they can achieve it.
Be a good follower.
As per a famous maxim: “To be a good teacher, you need to be a good student”. The same is true of leadership: You cannot lead others without being a good follower first. All leaders pay their dues by being loyal and respecting their mentors, instructors, and teachers.
Signing up your child to kids karate lessons, they can be taught valuable advice by their instructors on how they can be better leaders in the future. Remember kids follow and look up to people whom they admire. Most of the time, it matters to them the attitude and demeanor of their instructors or teachers.
By being loyal and respectful followers, they’ll gain respect and admiration from others and understand that in order to be successful, they need to put in the time, hard work, and effort to earn their way to the top, just like how they’re instructors did. Being a great follower is the biggest secret behind being a great leader.
Building leadership skills in our children are one of the best things we can do to ensure they have a bright future. They will help them to excel not only in their class but will also guide them in dealing with others in the real world. Having a leadership quality will give your kids the edge.
So, what are you waiting for, enroll now in our kid’s karate classes?
At Focus Martial Arts Brisbane, we tailored our programs and classes so that will help your kids in building the necessary life skills to ensure that our students improve in their martial arts lessons skills as well as skills for all parts of their life – at school, at home, and in their careers.