7 Benefits of Martial Arts for Children
While your child may enjoy accompanying you to church and attending Sunday school, you may find that they aren’t being taught all the skills required to traverse the difficulties and challenges of growing up in a modern, largely secular world. While attending Sunday school will most certainly help them develop a strong relationship with the bible and God, they may need more assistance in building a strong relationship with themselves – which martial arts can most definitely help with. As such, here are the 7 benefits of children attending a martial arts school.
- They Will Get Active and Fit
The prevalence of childhood obesity is increasing at an alarming rate and it can only be described as a worldwide epidemic. While physical education is fantastic, not every school offers programmes such as these and your child might not be a natural athlete. The martial arts offer may benefits and in order to become a true martial artist, your child will have to become incredibly fit.
- Help Them Find Focus and Stillness
In an overwhelming, loud world that is constantly switched on and plugged in, children can find great benefit in being taught to find focus in stillness and silence. Just as Bruce Lee said, behind the punches, kicks, and knees, a true martial artist must learn to face themselves and see where their weaknesses are. As such, the martial arts will teach your child what it is to be still, challenged, and focused.
- They Will Learn to Accept Disappointment
We will all face challenges in life, and it’s important that children learn how to face disappointment and get back up again. While half of martial arts is about hitting the opponent, the other half is about getting hit. Just as FIFA World Cup Betting will likely teach you how to accept loss, martial arts will help your child learn how to take a hit, whether that is a physical or mental blow.
- They Will Gain Self-Confidence
The best martial art school will teach your child that there are no ‘tough guys’, as every martial artist must learn this sense of respect and deep self-confidence. The martial arts will teach your child that self-confidence and respect for others can only come from a deep sense of self-awareness.
- They Will Learn the Mind/Body Connection
While a regular gym will help your child become physically fit, it won’t teach them how to listen to their body and have a heightened awareness of their emotional construct. A true martial artist is taught the ability to see, feel, and listen both internally and externally, and an example of being able to combine the physical with the mental is tapping into intuition, fear, and courage.
- They Will Learn to Resolve Conflict
One of the basics taught in Kung Fu is that words are never grounds for a physical altercation and this advice will definitely come in handy during your child’s formative years. Martial arts teach that there is no such thing as ‘fighting words’ and your child will be taught to respond without reacting.
- Tapping into the Essence of Breath
Nothing is more vital in successfully moving your body than tapping into the life force of your essence – breath. Many adults have never been taught have to breath while under physical exertion, and your child will learn how to breath and even relax under pressure.