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Most parents see kids martial arts as an activity.
Kids Martial Arts is so much more than kicking, punching, and play. It is an educational experience that empowers a child with Confidence, Focus, and Awareness to deal with the current struggles of today.
When parents enroll their children in our Kids Martial Arts Class, they quickly learn that this isn’t just playtime for their kids; they are investing in their child’s ability to manage life’s hardships, believe in themselves, and find and develop trustworthy friendships. Of course, the children also get the physical, emotional, and psychological advantages of learning to deal with scary and possibly violent bullying situations.
Your kids build confidence, self-esteem, and self-discipline with each lesson.
The best part is that the kids are having so much FUN they don’t even realize they are building essential skills for life.
So please have a look below to learn more about how your kids can benefit from martial arts training.
There’s a lot of anecdotal evidence of the benefits children can get from studying martial arts: discipline, respect and concentration, along with better strength, endurance and balance, just to start. Science is beginning to document these benefits and more. But…
Broadly, there are two types of martial arts – traditional and “modern.” Traditional martial arts, like those taught at Shaolin Arts, emphasize the philosophical and psychological aspects of the art along with the physical aspects. Modern martial arts, such as Boxing, MMA, Muay Thai, Kick Boxing, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, among others, focus on competition and sparring.
Study after study shows that the type of martial arts studied makes a dramatic difference in the outcome for the children. In traditional martial arts, students develop decreased aggressiveness, lowered anxiety, increased self esteem, and increased social skills. However, in modern martial arts, where the philosophical and psychological aspects are not emphasized, students show a large increase in aggressiveness and generally the opposite effects of training in traditional martial arts.
The evidence is clear, enrolling your children in a traditional martial arts program is the best choice to help them develop the skills they need to become successful in life.
You may remember the scene in the 1984 movie “The Karate Kid,” where Daniel LaRusso injured his leg and then went on to win the competition. Although that is a dramatic scene from a movie, the resilience demonstrated is a very real benefit of martial arts study.
Resilience is defined as achieving positive outcomes despite significant adversity, risk, or stress. Importantly, one study, “Understanding How Resiliency Development Influences Adolescent Bullying and Victimization,” showed that students who have higher levels of resilience are less likely to engage in bullying or be victims of bullying.
In another study published in the January 2019 issue of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, researchers found that a 10-week course in martial arts led to improved mental well-being outcomes, including resilience and self-efficacy.
Martial Arts Training also improved children’s academic, social, and emotional self-efficacy — helping them cope with the effects of bullying. And while the goal is to avoid situations where a child needs to use self-defense, taking a martial art gives your children the tools to defend themselves — or others — if necessary.
Self-esteem is critical for a child’s future success. Kids who feel good about themselves have the confidence to try new things. They are more likely to try their best. They feel proud of what they can do. Self-esteem helps kids cope with mistakes. It helps kids try again, even if they fail at first. As a result, self-esteem helps kids do better at school, home, and with friends.
Several studies show that kids martial arts training improves self-esteem because students experience success which they see as their own achievement, without comparing themselves to others. They develop self-esteem through attainment based on their efforts, not participation trophies.
At Shaolin Arts we have a framework for goal setting and success. The pinnacle goal for our students is to reach the coveted “Black Sash.” However, this goal will take years to achieve. So, in. our kids martial arts program, we break down that goal into levels represented by attaining a new sash. Each sash has clear requirements and expectations that the student must meet. If they fulfill those requirements, they get the sash; if not, they don’t.
When students are setting and accomplishing goals based on their own development of skills, behaviors, and attitudes, that builds self-esteem.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, childhood obesity is a serious medical condition that affects children and adolescents. It’s particularly troubling because the extra pounds often lead children to health problems once considered adult problems — diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Childhood obesity can also lead to poor self-esteem and depression.
One of the best ways to prevent obesity is to ensure your child gets enough exercise. In addition to burning calories, physical activity strengthens children’s bones and muscles, helps them fall asleep and get good-quality rest, and can boost their mood and energy. Experts recommend that children get between 150 and 300 minutes per week of moderately intense physical activity.
Studies show that kids martial arts training provides the physical activity needed to improve children’s physical fitness, including cardiorespiratory fitness, speed, agility, strength, flexibility, coordination, and balance.
Ages 6 through 12. We find that much before the age of 6, children do not necessarily have the motor skill development to effectively participate in martial arts.
No. Martial arts training focuses on defensive training.
Additionally, several research studies have shown that martial arts participation reduces aggression and disruptive behavior.
Many studies show that there is a significant correlation between martial arts participation and improved self-esteem.
Importantly, it shows that when a child has good self-esteem, they are much less likely to get bullied!
Important skills for children in school include self-control, and managing and altering their emotions and thought processes.
A substantial body of research shows that participation in traditional martial arts leads to good self-regulation. Good self-regulation is associated with positive mental health benefits and higher academic achievement in children.
The risk of injury from participation in traditional martial arts at Shaolin Arts is very low. Our focus is on safety. Additionally, we do not engage in full-contact sparring, which is the primary cause of injuries in martial arts.
That said, children’s motor skills can be fully developed only by the appropriate stimulation of physical activities and the environment, such as participation in traditional martial arts. Poor motor skills development greatly increases the risk of cognitive impairment, obesity, and movement coordination disorder.
In an individual sport, the focus tends to be centered around skills. Rather than comparing their performance to other kids or athletes, kids compare how they did today to how they’ve done in the past.
Focusing on personal improvement boosts self-confidence. As kids develop their skills, they feel a sense of accomplishment. These positive feelings go a long way in how much your child enjoys a particular activity and their desire to continue it.
If you’re curious about our kids martial arts program but you’re unsure if your child will like it, we offer a free trial that gives your child the chance to give it a try before enrolling.
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