The Benefits Of Karate For Your Child

By Leigh Metopher


Not every child wishes to participate in a team sport such basketball, baseball or soccer, but most parents still wish to find an activity for their children that provides exercise as well as a teaching them teamwork and social skills and improving their level of confidence. Martial arts, such as karate training, can be an excellent option for your child.

Exercise is certainly a big part of martial arts, and karate classes provide an excellent opportunity to get kids moving and away from screens and TV. Our lives have become far too sedentary, and exercise improves our physical health as well as our mental health and focus. Karate classes can improve your health, as well as improving coordination, balance, posture and flexibility.

Everyone needs to learn how to set a goal and then achieve that goal. Karate is absolutely designed to help children with goal-setting and achievement. After all, the goal is to earn a specific belt level and once that has been accomplished, you set a new goal for a higher belt level. Every time they earn a new belt, they will have a huge sense of accomplishment because they truly worked hard and earned something of value. This can be a great way to boost your child's self-esteem in a concrete way.

One key component of karate training is the idea that you must show respect for your instructor, who is called a sensei. A sensei not only teaches a child to respect their instructor during karate class but encourages a sense of respect and a good work ethic in all respects of life. Self-discipline is a necessary skill in karate as well as other aspects of life, and showing respect to others also is a highly important skill. A student also is taught to respect himself and the other children in his class or on his team. So while children are working to earn different belts as individuals, they are still learning the value of positive social interaction.

Too often our idea of martial arts is based on violent movies and TV shows, but karate is an art that teaches self-defense and self-control. While you are certainly being taught to defend yourself, a great sensei will encourage students to always consider non-violent resolutions to conflict. Sometimes simply having the confidence that you can defend yourself helps you avoid conflict.

At Team MAI, for instance, the sensei will focus on teaching respect, confidence and discipline. Of course, in addition to these skills, the instructors also want the kids to learn in a fun and positive way. After all, children should enjoy their karate experience as well as learning important life skills. For a San Marcos martial arts school, Carlsbad martial arts school or San Marcos martial arts academy, check out the classes available at Team MAI. The instructors also offer summer camps for their students, as well as their popular "Ninja Nights," which are slumber parties that provide some great opportunities for building lifelong friendships.




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