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Martial Arts – is it good for children?

As an instructor of young children I am asked this question a lot. So many factors need to be looked at, mostly notably the age of the child. I used to teach kids as young as 3 but each generation changes and a 3 year old in 2011 is quite different from a 3 year old in 2000. In fact, Martial Arts training for all ages of children in 2011 is different from the kind of classes we used to run in 1990, when I began teaching. This is a good thing. Although the same principles of Martial Arts should still apply, the method in which the information is passed along should change with each generation. So every year the classes should be ever so slightly different from the previous year. By this I mean the classes should be current, appropriate to the things and the trends of today.

Parents still want the traditional lessons of Martial Arts to be taught to their kids – personal discipline, fitness, self defence skills, personal respect and the respect of others including class mates and the instructor; but they also want to ensure their kids are happy to be in the class and their Martial Arts experience is a positive one.

Many of the principles that make up a Martial Art can be passed on in a subliminal way. Just like hiding the peas in the gravy, kids are encouraged to do things in a Martial Arts class without realizing the benefits.

Kneeling quietly and closing their eyes at the start of a class is a very short burst of meditation which helps the kids become centered and focused on what they are about to be taught

The many and varied exercises helps the kids develop fitness and strength with the additional benefit of weight loss thus resulting in greater self confidence and a feeling of self worth

Games played during class helps by practicing the Martial Art skills as well as teaching the kids to play with others, respect others, team work and the valuable lesson of just because you didn’t win doesn’t mean you didn’t have fun.

Going through the grading process might be stressful but it is a physical and ultimately a visual way of recognizing your improvement. By attending the classes, trying your best and working on improving your skills you are rewarded with a different coloured belt and a higher grade.

Joining a Martial Art school is not just to develop a physical skill. It is a greater experience than that. There is a place for martial arts in all our lives and the benefits of training, both physically and mentally, should be open to everyone. The feeling of achievement that a student gets from participating in a Martial Arts class is just impossible to quantify. Not all kids are naturally confident but all children should leave a class with a feeling of greatness, as is their right.

I hope you have enjoyed reading this post.

Caroline Sensei

www.karateforkids.com.au

Term 3, 2011

New class starts on Friday this week. Monday class is back next week. See you then!

www.karateforkids.com.au

New Term

Last weekend before the new term starts. I hope everyone has had a good holiday and is ready to get going for term 3. Big news this term is the start of a new class on Friday afternoons. James is the teacher and I look forward to seeing some new and older kids joining in.

To start with we are going to run the class for a few "select" students. Most of them are aged 9 and above and with luck we'll start to see the class build to include some older kids. James is super keen and fully charged after his trip to China.

I'll be getting him to give me a run down on how the classes go and you may even see him as a visiting blog poster here soon.

welcome

I've been writing Blogs for other people so I guess I should start writing my own.

My site is www.karateforkids.com.au and I've been teaching karate to kids for over 20 years which means I'm getting old! :)

I now have a great new instructor to help me and the kids think he's very cool.