As a parent, it’s worrying to see your child throw punches and kicks at a sibling, or throw items around the house. Thankfully, there are ways to channel that aggressive energy into something productive, like martial arts training. Believe it or not, such aggressive acts can greatly benefit your child when its tempered through martial arts training and discipline.
Real martial arts training (unlike what’s shown on television or movies) is based on the principle of non-violence. There are a lot of varieties, types and styles, but all of them are based on strict moral teachings.
Read on to learn about more ways how martial arts help the development of your child.
Martial Arts Promote Mental Health
Whether it’s Kung Fu, Karate, Taekwondo, Kickboxing or some other form, improves psychological health by boosting the student’s self-esteem, confidence, self-discipline and concentration.
The training programs are regulated and structured so students develop greater mental and physical stability. Your child will learn how the mind and body work together, thereby giving him/her a better understanding of co-ordination. The child is trained to perform under pressure. It builds self-confidence in your child and prepares him/her to handle any challenging situation that comes their way. Children who are bullied have the most to gain as it grants them a sense of empowerment by teaching them self-defence.
Martial arts can benefit your kid if he/she suffers from Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Children afflicted with these disorders suffer from anxiety, fear and poor memory. The physical activity involved in the training strengthens the neural networks in the brain and enables better self-control in your child.
Martial Arts Fight Obesity
Obesity is currently an epidemic. In recent years, almost 13% of kids in Canada aged between 3-19 years are obese due to lack of physical activity. Obese kids are more likely to grow up into obese adults suffering from various health issues like hypertension, high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, stress, anxiety and depression. Many schools now don’t offer physical education programs and even if they do, not all kids are athletic. Martial arts are a great alternative, in fact, a much better alternative to PE programs. Martial arts training will make being active fun, engaging and boost their fitness level.
Martial Arts Improve the Social Skills of Your Child
Social skills are very important part of growing up and succeeding in life. If your child is very shy and quiet, or too talkative and boisterous, he/she can highly benefit from martial arts training. These training programs will teach your child to build healthy relationships with the other kids. He/she will also learn better communication skills, teamwork and conflict resolution while having to communicate with the instructor and other peers.
The lessons your child will learn from attending martial arts training will last for the rest of his/her life. There’s no right age for your kid to be enrolled. It depends on your kid’s interest and if you think that it’s the right time to channel his/her energy into something constructive. Before choosing a martial arts academy for your child, ensure that the location has qualified instructors, good training spaces and safety measures in place.