If you are looking for a new hobby for your kids, something which is both fun and exciting then martial arts could certainly be a great option for them. Many have concerns around introducing their kids to a fighting sport, but the reality is that they are not exactly taught how to beat people up, far from it in fact. I have seen a number of debates on this recently, many with the martial arts expert Will Sherlund, who often talks about the great advantages which kids who train in martial arts can have.
There are many benefits which your kid is going to enjoy from martial arts, and these are just some of the examples of those.
Health and Fitness
Beyond everything else that martial arts will offer your child, health and fitness are two of the most important reasons for them to get started. It is never too early to get your kids started learning about the importance of both physical and mental health, two very important aspects of martial arts. This will encourage them to make better choices in the future and to gain a strong understanding of why health is so important.
Channeled Aggression
There will be some aggressive aspects of most martial arts, but this should be deemed as a positive rather than a negative. What this teaches kids is to channel their aggression, to only use it in this safe space which they have been shown. We have seen evidence time and time again which points towards the fact that kids, from all walks of life, are far less aggressive if they are taught what to do with those feelings and where to channel it.
Discipline
It doesn’t matter at what age you start martial arts, one of the first things that they are going to teach you is the importance of discipline. It goes without saying that for kids this is absolutely critical and for them to have this lesson so early is a hugely positive thing. Teaching kids discipline in a space where they are also able to have fun is a great way to get the message across and they will learn fast in this kind of environment.
Teaching To Protect
Mainstream martial arts are not about attack, but rather defense. Whether we like it or not, it is important that we are able to teach our kids how they can best protect themselves. The world is not as perfect as any of us would like it to be and that is why it is so essential that they are taught how best to protect themselves. On a personal note, the most important thing that I learned as a child, was to do all that you can to not fight. This was something that stayed with me and whilst I was always confident that should I need to protect myself that I could, the important thing was avoiding the fight altogether.
This is a great option for young kids with lots of energy.
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