The Truth about Karate for Kids

by Paul M. Jerard Jr.

Here are three valuable life skills for children who study Karate.

Attraction

Doesn't everyone want to feel appreciated, popular, and get some recognition? Children need it even more that you do. This is why a child, who has leadership, success, and social skills, will go far among his or her peers. This is one more reason why a child who studies Karate will avoid following the crowd and become a trend setter.

How can a child be so self assured?   It comes with inner confidence, achievements, and enhanced athletic abilities. These are all benefits that children gain from regular participation in a Karate class.

Innovation and Creative Thinking

When teaching the children, in our North Providence martial arts studio, I often emphasize the value of the words, "martial artist." It is the art that really separates a martial artist from the street fighter.

Otherwise, children would only learn self-defense skills, which is a by product of Karate training, but they also have a moral code. Many life skills are learned within martial arts classes. Children in a Karate class should be encouraged to find solutions that work for them.

Therefore, the young Karate student is not a clone of his or her teacher. After the basics are accomplished, all Karate students should use techniques that work for their mind and body. Karate practitioners are not all "wired" in the same way.

As long as the basic foundations are followed, the child who practices Karate should find independent solutions, just like any other artist. I often compare this to music; and here is my comparison, "I can give you the notes, and teach you songs, but it is up to you to create your own songs."

Time Management

Children, who practice Karate, or any other martial art, learn to be dressed on time, line up in formation, and remember to bring their equipment. This is elementary to adults, but if your child is slowing you down, Karate is a fantastic solution for the child who needs to manage time a little better.

When this same child grows into adulthood, he or she will be thankful for the lessons in time management, when going through college, working at a job, or raising his or her own children. When learning Karate, children also learn to prioritize the important things in life and establish much better control over time management. The co-worker, or college student, who is habitually late, is rarely successful, and has always left something important "on the back burner."

Copyright 2005 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

If you're looking to sign your child up for Martial Arts, be sure to check out our Martial Arts Classes section for a selection.

About the Author Paul Jerard is the director of Yoga teacher training at Aura in RI. He's a master instructor of martial arts and Yoga. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness. He wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students wanting to be a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org