Far more than just punching and kicking…
Most parents like you are quite surprised and amazed at just how many real benefits there are for children who participate in a martial arts program. What most people don’t realise is that martial arts has a very strong positive impact on our children physically, mentally and emotionally.
Most people think martial arts – Karate, Taekwon-Do, Jiu-Jitsu, Kick-boxing – is about Johnny or Sally to learning how to defend themselves against the school bully! Self-defense skills are important – especially these days, however they are probably the least important benefit that children will learn!
Here’s what I mean…
Numerous tangible benefits…
The physical benefits are the most obvious. Improved strength, flexibility, coordination, endurance are just some of the benefits. It’s true that there is a wide range of other activities that provide these benefits, believe it or not, martial arts is one of the safest sports available for kids!
Participating in martial arts has a powerful effect on our children’s mental wellness too. This by the way doesn’t come from any esoteric Eastern meditation either! Martial arts promote increased powers of concentration and focus. Being “in the moment” is a very important skill which in today’s ever changing fast pace and distracting world is a rare thing for children. Martial arts also promote problem solving strategies and skills. Here students learn to think for themselves and do so very quickly!
…after just five months in the kids Jiu-Jitsu program, we noticed a big improvement in my son’s reading skills! His teacher asked us what program we had him in and she couldn’t believe it was “just” Jiu-Jitsu!
John P.
Ottawa |
Building on that basic skill, martial arts can prove especially beneficial for children with attention deficit issues like ADD and ADHD.
The effect on children’s emotions and emotional states is something that is often overlooked and underappreciated. Self-confidence, self-awareness and a sense of accomplishment are a natural by-product of most kids martial arts programs. One very popular and positive benefit is martial arts is a tremendous alternative for children who would not normally do well in team sports. It can actually prepare a child to perform better in other sports and recreational activities.
It also provides a healthy, safe and challenging outlet for all that pent-up energy!
Respect
Self-confidence
Fitness
Self-discipline
Relationships
Self-defense
Self-control
Strength
Confidence
Flexibility
Accomplishment
Reduce fears
Skill building
Learning strategies
Focus
Self-awareness
Burn energy
FUN! |
The bottom line…
Alright, we now have a better idea just how beneficial martial arts can be for your child or children. But what does it mean for you and your children? Basically, having your children participate in a well structured martial arts program will help produce a happier, healthier and more capable child! Your child will have a much better understanding of themselves and their many relationships with the world around them. And we all wish we could give that to our children, don’t we?
But hold on. There is one thing, one magical ingredient that makes the children’s martial arts program offered only at Alpha Mixed Martial Arts in Carleton Place even more beneficial and effective than most others.
Children’s classes are work, but fun!
Before we get to that magical ingredient, let’s look at a typical children’s class at Alpha. After arriving at the dojo (the traditional name for the training school), they change into their gi (the martial arts training outfit) and make their way to the training area. Training is done on specially developed thick padded mats made in Canada especially for practicing martial arts.
The Sensei (head instructor, Peter Tremblay) has the children line up and begins the session by ensuring each child is ready for the class by having what he calls the “intro talk”.
The intro talk is a bit more than just a quick pep talk. Here, Peter is able to establish a friendly leadership connection with each child and have them get ready, in their own way, for a fun and challenging class. Each intro talk is different and is relevant to the group’s mood and level of excitement. Peter always ensures the children are focused and ready to go.
"Martial Arts has become a family activity which we all participate in and has given us something in common that we can work together on as a family.
We have developed a healthier lifestyle and have become more physically fit.
Martial Arts is teaching my girls about respect and confidence in themselves
and in others. It has opened up a new social and education circle for them and the life lessons they learn in the dojo will be applicable to them in every day life."
Lisa Tanguay
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Next, he leads the class through a set of fun and invigorating stretches, warm up activities and exercises. There are other Black Belts helping out as well.
The training starts with a discussion of 2 or 3 techniques. Peter demonstrates the moves and how, when and why they should be used. The children then pair up and practice the techniques.
Complete martial arts at Alpha…
Peter teaches a modern type of Jiu-Jitsu to the children. Jiu-Jitsu is a very old traditional Japanese martial art – “The Art of the Samurai”. Jiu-Jitsu involves techniques that are effective in all four phases of fighting:
- Striking (kicking, punching)
- Clinch (grabbing, holding)
- Ground (wrestling)
- Evasion (breaking holds)
Children learn how to handle themselves in basically any stressful situation when they learn Jiu-Jitsu.
Peter teaches a modern style; one that involves the most effective techniques that require the least amount of effort. This way, all Alpha students have a very effective and efficient set of self-defense skills. There is no need for any outdated or inefficient techniques that are taught as a matter of tradition.
Let’s ROLL!!!
The group then gets to what the children love the most… They “roll”.
Rolling is the fun term for actually practicing the new moves (and whatever other moves they know) in actual practice bouts. Here you see the children really applying themselves! Rolling is fun, but it is extremely hard and tiring work. Just ask the kids and each one will tell you it’s the best part of the class.
Deeper lessons for the children…
Peter then winds down the class by talking with the class about 1 or 2 important “life lessons”. As a father of two children, Peter knows how important it is to pass on useful lessons, skills, attitudes and any other raw material our children can use to build a better being. He understands that as a well seasoned martial arts instructor, he has a very important impact on every one of his students, especially the children.
The entire children’s class structure and contents are geared towards providing that special “magical” ingredient. What is that ingredient?
They defeat the biggest opponent…
During a recent interview, Peter was asked why he thought it was important for children to learn martial arts. His response really surprised the interviewer. Peter’s response was that “…learning that the BIGGEST opponent anyone will ever have in life is yourself. To learn that lesson early in life will give a child a terrific advantage.”
So the magical ingredient is far more than confidence, strength, concentration and self-defense. The magical ingredient is one of the most important lessons anyone can learn.
Johnny and Sally will definitely learn how to protect themselves from the school bully too.
Get down there!
Please call Peter at 613.257.3518 to have your children enrolled for a week trial class. Better yet, visit! You are more than welcome to visit the dojo at 152 Beckwith Street in Carleton Place and see for yourself. Bring your children too! It might just be a very important step for them on the road to a happy, safe and successful life.
See you at the next class!
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