Is your child asking you to start practising martial arts? The sight of your little one running around the yard or rushing his toy car through the rooms is delightful yet alarming.
After all, there’s always the fear that he might get hurt now and then. The best way to minimise such possibilities is to channel this overflowing energy into an extracurricular physical activity such as martial arts.
But how will your child benefit from martial arts other than that? Well, there are several ways a child can develop by practising martial arts systematically, which we’ll discuss in this guide. Knowing about the benefits of this discipline will help you understand its significance in any child’s life.
Plus, we’ve included a section on the most popular forms of martial arts so that you can choose a suitable type per your child’s needs and interests.
Let’s get going and find out what age your child should start martial arts classes!
Benefits of Martial Arts For Kids
1. Self-Improvement Through Goal-Setting
It’s essential to make your little ones understand the value of setting goals in life. In the future, it can help them plan how they’ll move forward in life. And they’ll also be better equipped to deal with the outcome of their efforts in pursuing their goals.
The ranking or belt system applicable to most martial arts provides kids with an opportunity to learn goal-setting and strive to achieve those goals. Each belt or rank will correspond to a different goal, and realising each of these will ultimately motivate your kids to do better. Studying martial arts also helps with self-esteem and self-discipline, which are both great values to teach kids.
2. Improving Concentration And Self-Control
An essential requirement of practising any martial art is staying focused. Martial arts students must concentrate on the different movements to bring perfection to practice. Thus, kids are taught to discipline their minds to focus on their own and their target’s body movements.
This can ultimately help reduce your kid’s fickle-mindedness so that their overall concentration power boosts.
In the process, kids can also master self-control as they must set aside their longings and desires while engaging in martial art practice. And that’s not all; taking a particular position, known as the “ready stance”, can help kids reset whenever their focus drifts during practice.
3. They Learn To Listen And Respect
To learn any new move or skill in martial art, listening to the instructor and following their directions is of the utmost importance. Hence, kids must carefully listen to the instructor throughout each session. This will naturally enhance their listening skills, which will come to their help in various situations in the future.
Another core value in this discipline is respect, as kids must show it to their instructors and peers. Students must stay away from negativity in the class and are instead encouraged to be by each other’s side.
4. Encourages Team Spirit And Belonging
Though students practice martial arts individually, teamwork is essential to this discipline. It’s especially applicable when students have to learn sparring techniques or perfect different moves. In such cases, they’ll need to practice the moves in pairs.
This gives kids the opportunity to work together as a team, through which they can help each other learn and improve their efficacy in martial arts. And in the long term, they will find it simpler to work in a team, be it in academics, a corporate environment, or business. Plus, being part of a group of students creates lifelong friendships and a sense of belonging.
5. Teaches Self-Defense
Martial arts aims to teach students a non-violent and peaceful way of conflict resolution so that they can find ways to prevent a physical altercation. This is why most martial arts style of this discipline focus on self-defence.
6. Keeps The Body Fit And Healthy
Any martial arts training session includes a few warm-up exercises such as jumping jacks, push-ups, stretches, and even skipping rope exercises. And after the warm-up, the practices may involve kicks, blocks, punches, strikes, and other energetic movements.
Together, all such physical activities help toughen the muscles, tone the body, and, most importantly, improve the flexibility and agility of the child. This is why learning martial arts is one of the best ways to keep your child fit and healthy.
7. Improves Balance And Posture
Maintaining a good posture and balance is essential for performing simple tasks and complex athletic movements more efficiently. It minimises the likelihood of injuries or poor performance for children in different sports, such as athletics.
While performing different martial arts techniques, your child must execute the movements with the help of correct postures. Hence, regularly practising martial arts can help them maintain the correct posture and balance.
8. Improves Coordination
Good hand-to-eye coordination is another key requirement for mastering any sport. And martial arts can be quite helpful in improving such coordination since it strikes a balance between the mind and body.
The Most Popular Forms Of Kids’ Martial Arts Training
After we’ve looked at the various benefits of this practice for kids, let’s learn about the best forms of martial art training sessions for kids.
1. Karate
Having originated in China, Karate is one of the most common forms of martial arts and means ‘open or empty hands’ in Chinese. This form of martial art teaches movements using the legs and arms, such as striking, blocking, kicking, and punching.
2. Taekwondo
This form originates in Korea and refers to the art of blocking or striking with the foot or fist. Notably, it emphasises self-defence techniques and improves focus using meditation and breathing techniques.
3. Jujitsu
The Japanese form of martial art involves the use of close combat methods. Interestingly, people trained in this form turn the weight and strength of their opponents to their advantage.
4. Kung Fu
Kung Fu is more demanding and rigorous than many other martial art forms and requires the students to perform more fluid movements. It’s also a fast-paced form, so kids can have an aerobic workout.
5. Judo
This Japanese traditional martial arts form is more competitive and involves throwing the opponent with the help of leverage and balancing techniques.
6. Aikido
Also originating in Japan, this form is similar to Brazilian jiu-jitsu in many ways but is non-competitive and gentler. It’s very useful for children to learn to cooperate and work with a partner.
Starting Your Child In Martial Arts
As we wrap up our guide, we hope you’ve developed a clear idea about the various ways martial arts can benefit kids. So, which form of martial arts do you think would be ideal for your little one? Let us know in the comments section below.
Here’s one last tip for you before we call it a day. After you decide on the type of training that will be most suitable, research the instructors you’re considering.
Don’t hesitate to discuss the developments you expect from the training. This will surely help you make a wise decision.
That’s all for today. If you are purchasing martial arts uniforms or equipment for your child and need assistance, contact us.
We’ll be back soon with more exciting guides, so stay tuned.
Till then, take care!
