Martial arts are an amazing way for your child to build strength, confidence, discipline, and to make new friends.
With so many options to choose from, picking the right martial art for your kid can be a tough and confusing process. We've done the research for you and picked out the best martial arts for children, breaking down the benefits and skills your kid will gain from each type so you can choose the one that best matches their personality and needs.
So, how old should your child be when they start martial arts? Some studios offer classes for kids as young as three years old, but it is recommended that children begin martial arts at around the five to six age mark. Martial arts can even be beneficial to three or four year-olds, teaching them coordination and discipline at a young age. However, if your child wants to start competing, it is best to wait until they are at least eight years or older. This way they are more emotionally mature to deal with losing competitions, following rules, and feeling satisfaction whether they win or lose.
Martial arts have amazing effects on the physical and mental health of both children and adults. They can also teach your children important life skills such as self-defense, teamwork, discipline, and confidence, and they're also just a lot of fun.
So, if you're sitting on the fence about enrolling your children into kids martial arts classes, take a look at the amazing benefits of learning martial arts for kids.
EXERCISE
Martial arts can help your kids stay active and healthy and it is an awesome way for them to have fun! Kids can get a full-body workout, as well as improve their coordination, reflexes, flexibility, balance, endurance, and agility. Staying fit and active can help them feel better in their day-to-day lives as they have more energy for school and other activities. It is also a great option for children who don't enjoy other sports.
MAKE FRIENDS
Like team sports, martial arts is a great way for your children to meet other kids and make new friends as they learn the art. Making new friends in class can help motivate your kid to continue going to classes and encourage each other to do their best and keep improving.
TEAMWORK
Even though martial arts is measured individually, it can help kids work better in teams as they have shared goals that they are working together to achieve. Most martial arts require students to practice moves on each other (known as sparring) once they reach a certain level. Training and drilling together is far more beneficial than training alone, so students have to learn to work together. They are also taught to be respectful of one another and to encourage and support each other on their martial arts journeys.
SELF DEFENSE
Teaching self-defense is one of the best benefits of martial arts for kids and for parents. Being parents comes with the burden of worrying about your child's safety when you aren't there to protect them. Martial arts is a great way for children to learn defense skills so that you can worry less, and they can feel safer in the world. DISCIPLINE
Teaching your kids to block, kick, and punch doesn't mean your child will become more aggressive in their day-to-day life. In fact, studies have shown that martial arts can reduce aggressive behavior as it teaches discipline and self-control.
MINDFULNESS
The martial arts are known for their benefits on the mind. They can help your kid grow into a well-rounded person by teaching them important life skills like mindfulness, patience, humility, and respect. It can even help them listen better, feel calmer, stay focused, and persevere through tough situations.
SELF ESTEEM Enrolling your child in a martial arts class can do amazing things for their confidence. Classes are often rooted in teaching the importance of personal growth rather than competition, so there is no pressure for your child to compare themselves to others. Beginning martial arts can help your child feel more confident in themselves. Working towards and achieving goals set in classes is also a great opportunity for your child to boost their self esteem as they progress at their own pace through different belt levels. KARATE is one of the most practiced forms of martial arts in the world. It originated as a form of weaponless self-defense in Okinawa, Japan when weapons were banned and translates to "empty hands" in Japanese. So, karate is obviously a great option for teaching your kids self-defense skills. In traditional karate, it is believed that the self is the real enemy, so the teachings have a strong focus on spiritual development, self-control, patience, and discipline to help master oneself. Karate makes use of balanced, full-body moves, and training focuses on blocks, strikes, punches, evasions, and kicks that help your child counter-strike opponents. As your child progresses from a white belt to a black belt, they will learn the three core elements of Karate: Kihon (basics), Kata (forms), and Kumite (sparring). 2022 Kidadl Ltd.