The evolution of technology for the last decades has made a tremendous effect on our lives. Not long ago, no one thought that the internet would make such an impact on our day-to-day activities. Take a look around, it seems like the world become such a small place because of it.
Though we welcome the advantage given to us by tech machines and their innovation, we cannot deny the fact that technology also has some downsides. Social media for example. Both adults and kids are spending more time on their online activities.
In today’s high-tech world, children become more distracted. They would rather play video games than spend their time doing physical workouts like attending karate classes or taekwondo sessions.
As much as we don’t want to breed a generation of couch potatoes, this kind of attitude of kids can be discouraging. We should help them realize that they miss out on learning practical life skills if they continue to succumb to computer-related activities only. Playing computer games or doing surfing around on the internet is not totally bad, but it should be regulated. We should stress to these young people the importance of face-to-face interaction with people and physical involvement activity.
Encouraging them to attend martial arts classes will help them learn some basic life skills like becoming more independent, productive adults. According to an essay on the importance of life skill education, life skills “can help people to make informed decisions, communicate effectively and develop coping and self-management skills that may help an individual to lead a healthy and productive life.”
Most of life’s important skills are taught at school and at home. But there is no better program that covers physical education and character development than martial arts do.
Discover these 7 essential Life Skills your child will develop while taking kids martial arts classes
It helps develop CONFIDENCE
You may already read or heard testimonies about how martial arts like karate can be a great help in enhancing someone’s self-confidence. As you may not know, in most martial arts classes, students are always encouraged to believe in themselves. That there’s nothing impossible if they have enough belief in their own capabilities. Thus, eventually, this positive encouragement results in the molding of confidence.
In a situation where children work hard to earn their next belt level, they’re not only learning self-defense but are building their self-esteem, too. Once they’ve mastered new techniques, their confidence gets a boost. They start to feel good about themselves and become more self-assured about what they are capable of doing. They learn to develop sense of purpose. This kind of mindset is taught while they’re enrolled in karate classes for kids. The things our children absorb in their karate lessons will extend far beyond the studio, turning them into confident adults in the long run.
It teaches the value of COMMITMENT
There are many situations in our life where meet people who it seems like cannot commit to what they are doing. May it be in work or relationship. And we know that most often than not this type is not reliable. As much as possible, we do not want our kids to have this kind of personality.
In today’s world where individuals lack a sense of follow through on the commitments they make, taking karate classes for kids is a good start to teach young students to understand the value of commitment. Karate teaches them to constantly go to practice even when they don’t feel like it because of their commitment to training.
Make commitment a habit! The sooner this concept is enforced on them, the earlier they can grasp its importance. This habit will make them stronger to overcome life’s challenges in the future.
It fosters PERSEVERANCE
When a person is committed to what he is doing, you can expect him to persevere no matter what roadblocks he has to face. And people who persevere usually end up being winners!
With commitment, comes perseverance. The willingness to work on one’s self is an important life principle for our kids to learn. If they acquire this kind of thinking, they surely set themselves for success.
Taking karate lessons or any martial arts training is not a walk in the park. It is actually rigorous. The only way to keep learning and growing is to stay positive and to continuously try even when you fail and take lapses. Karate lessons will not only teach your kids to set expectations for themselves but will also help them believe that continuous growth is what will make them better persons or future leaders.
Never giving up is an important life lesson that kids can learn during their karate classes for kids. The belt/ranking system in karate schools helps children to set their goals and achieve them through perseverance.
It instills SELF DISCIPLINE
One of the best things about martial arts training it teaches students the importance of discipline and how to stay disciplined in every aspect of life. Successful mart artist reached their status because they first embrace the culture of being a disciplined student.
Karate, or martial arts in general, is a physical expression of ‘practice makes perfect. In karate schools, students are taught to perform a series of related movements, hundreds of times. The controlled movements in karate lessons and the need to think before acting help improve self-discipline. Enrolling them in karate lessons for kids can help your child improve their ability to initiate accountability and self-restraint.
It helps in establishing SELF CONTROL
Self-control refers to the training of one’s self to accomplish a certain task or to adopt a particular pattern of behavior. Having a sense of holding your emotions before you act is a skill or ability that everyone needs to possess. This mental toughness should be pursued above all physical attributes.
Taking your kids to karate schools is one of the best ways to ensure they learn self-control so they can be successful in what they want to do now and later in their lives.
A self-disciplined body and a strong, self-controlled mind can help accomplish any task positively. During martial arts lessons, students are taught to maintain discipline and their positive behaviors are reinforced which translates into better self-control.
The lessons improve FOCUS
Practicing martial arts or self-defense classes, it’s not only about exercises. Students will learn several techniques and movements. And some movements are complicated and if you do not focus, you will find yourself getting hurt or you will hurt other people.
This is the primary reason why having focus is one of the most important skills required in karate classes. An article from Parenting.com said that parents of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder report that martial arts training helps their children greatly improve their ability to concentrate and maintain self-control.
Build your child’s attention span by enrolling them in karate classes for kids. Students usually get ‘in the zone especially when performing more complex moves/techniques. This will teach your child to focus on the task at hand while improving their listening skills and how they respond to their surroundings. Not only will this foster physical fitness but it can also help them be an astute listener at home and in school.
It teaches LEADERSHIP
Do you believe that all of the mentioned life skills above combine into a super-life skill called leadership? Growing into a leader is the ultimate outcome of kids martial arts lessons.
Not everyone is born a leader, but leadership is a skill that can be learned with dedication and practice. As the saying goes, “Leaders are made, not born.”
Karate classes for kids are the greatest breeding ground for cultivating leaders. When students are confident in themselves, they are better suited to help others in leading by example. This is the true meaning of the ‘Black Belt Attitude.’
Karate classes for kids also inspire humility as there will always be someone who is better. Humility is not a reflection of weakness but it implies a respectful appreciation of the strength of others. This can give your child a sense of confidence that doesn’t require external recognition.
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