The Truth about Karate for Kids - Part 4
Here are two more fantastic life skills your child can gain from
a kids Karate class.
Goal Setting
Any child, who starts to learn Karate, arrives to class with a
few goals in mind. These goals are as simple as learning a new
Karate technique, advancing to the next belt rank, and
impressing his or her parents. Once a short-term goal is
achieved, confidence settles in, and Karate training is a
succession of goals.
Therefore, overcoming obstacles, which routinely occur within
martial arts, become "second nature." Children, who regularly
accomplish goals, within their Karate class, learn to accept
adversity, set-backs, and disappointments. Finding solutions
"under fire" is a routine part of a Karate classes for children.
This is extremely rewarding and builds a child's self esteem to
the core of his or her inner being.
Anger Management
Karate class gives children an outlet for life's daily stress.
Children today have too much stress with unstable family units,
bullies, peer pressure, and financial worries. The Karate studio
serves as a bridge between academic school and the family unit.
Children have a safe place to "vent" their frustrations, when
they come into a Karate class.
Many physical education programs, in schools, have been scaled
back - and playing out on the street is very unsafe. Karate is
safe, physical, and supervised. Kicking and punching bags, or
target pads, is just one way for children to get some
frustration out of their systems.
Children also learn to count and yell (kia) within the Karate
class at appropriate times. The kia is the sound you often hear
when a Karate practitioner demonstrates a breaking technique.
The ability to vocalize is an empowering experience for children
and a natural part of childhood.
Running, jumping, punching, kicking, and screaming are normal,
but children are often put on prescriptions for being active.
Karate gives children a safe and structured solution for
managing anger. Many parents, with children in our Karate
classes at our North Providence facility, remark that their
children sleep better, are more focused on homework, and are
more cooperative after a Karate lesson.
If we spent our childhood years with less physical activity,
more stress, and were told to be quiet all the time, we would
have anger management issues, as well. Extra energy is a part of
youth, and you can easily see this in any species. Youth is full
of energy, taking chances, and learning boundaries. This is why
"Karate for Kids" is so valuable in developing character within
our children today. There is no equal to Karate training, in
structure, or in child development.