10 Reasons Why FiveStar is Great for Kids…and Adults
Why Your Child Should Practice Martial Arts
Reason #1: They (and You) Will Get More Active
This is the obvious reason kids should do martial arts in this day and age – to get active and moving. In case you haven’t noticed, we have an epidemic when it comes to our nation’s obesity problem. We’re also increasingly unfit in addition to being overweight. The problem is particularly alarming as it relates to our kids. Youth sports and physical education programs are great, but not every kid is an athlete and many schools no longer offer PE. The martial arts offer many benefits, but when it comes to fitness, becoming a true martial artist means becoming a supremely fit person. When I was practicing Taekwondo or Gracie Jiu Jitsu on a daily basis, I was in the best shape of my life by a long shot. Martial arts can help your child get fit and healthy.
Reason #2: They’ll Learn to Find Focus and Stillness
Of the many challenges that parents face today, one is that we are constantly plugged in. While there are a great many benefits to the Internet, there are many more benefits in stillness and silence. Unfortunately stillness and silence seem to be rare to find. At some juncture in life, every one of us comes to learn that the greatest obstacle we face in this lifetime is ourselves. That battle is fought in the stillness of our hearts and the willingness to confront ourselves. As Bruce Lee pointed out, behind the punches, kicks, and knees, a true martial artist learns to sit with himself and see where his weaknesses are. In years of martial arts classes, I remember many challenges, breakthroughs, and setbacks. What I do not remember are distractions or gimmicks like you often see at your local health club. At the martial arts studios and where I trained, there was no loud music or flat screen TVs for the students, just hard work and sweat equity. As a martial artist, your child will learn what it is to be still, challenged, and focused.
Reason #3: They’ll Learn to endure
your child will learn what it is to endure something, whether that hit is a literal blow or a disappointment like failing a test. Part of life is learning that we all take hits. The key is in learning how best to take that hit and get back up. Unfortunately, this lesson seems to be lost on many in our every-kid-gets-a-trophy culture. In the martial arts, your kid will learn to deal with less then optimal results at times. Half of martial arts is hitting, but half is also getting hit (not literally).
Reason #4: They’ll Gain Self Confidence and Self Respect
I was able to witness first hand the confidence he gained by participating in the martial arts. Being able to advance and play with the big kids gives a tremendous amount of confidence. Of course, playing with the big kids also gives all of us a little reminder of humility – someone is always bigger and stronger. The right martial arts school will teach your child that there are no tough guys. Every martial artist ultimately learns this sense of respect and true confidence. Your child will learn that confidence and respect for others comes from a deep sense of self-knowledge.Reason #5: They’ll Connect Their Mind and Body
What they don’t teach you at your local health club is how to really listen to your body. To listen to your body is to also see your thoughts and have heightened awareness of your emotional construct. A martial artist is taught to see, feel, and listen – both internally and externally. Tapping into intuition, fear, and courage are examples of being able to put the physical together with the mental. How often have we heard the phrase “being paralyzed with fear”? Being able to combat such a thing is what you learn in the martial arts.Reason #6: They’ll Learn Conflict Resolution
People often ask me whether I have ever used my martial arts training in a fight. Indeed I have used the skill sets learned from martial arts many times to resolve conflict, but thankfully, never in a physical altercation (outside the ring, of course). One of the first lessons my instructor taught us in Taekwondo was that words were never grounds for a fight. That advice right there has saved me many times. In the martial arts, you learn that there is no such thing as “fighting” words. Instead, you learn to respond without reacting in the martial arts.
Reason #7: They’ll Learn to Breathe
Of the many things I have learned in the martial arts in Taekwondo and Gracie Jiu Jitsu is breathing is near the top. My Instructor told me that he could tell how someone fights just by observing how he or she breathes. Indeed, nothing is more essential to the success of how we move our body then tapping into the life force of our essence – our breath. Ask a professional athlete, or an actor, dancer, or singer, and they will tell you that to succeed in any physical craft is to access your breath correctly. I am shocked at times working with adults who never learned to breathe properly when under physical exertion. This skill can literally save your life. In the martial arts your kid will learn the essence of how to breathe and even relax under pressure.
The bottom line is that almost any child can and will benefit from participation in the martial arts. As to what martial art, it’s honestly not very important. For a typical six or eight year old the point is to just get them moving and focused. The key in choosing a teacher or school is to do your due diligence when it comes to evaluating the integrity of the program. As a starting place, I would choose a prospective instructor or coach who talks more about the needs of your child than his or her program. Be careful of immigrated Instructors as their history cannot always be ascertained. Be very careful.
I can testify that a combination of Taekwondo and Gracie JIu Jitsu does in fact cover the best of what makes us a well rounded person, martial artist and ready to protect ourselves, others, and be confident. I know it is a lot of information but your enquiry is very important to us and i hope we can meet your needs.
