excerpt from a great post about the benefits of martial arts for kids.
"In many oriental nations, martial arts are taught to school children how P.E. is a part of our children's school day. If we would make the shift from general P.E. to a martial arts curriculum, we would be giving our children all the benefits of a general P.E. class and so much more. Here's why:
General P.E. classes aim to teach many different skills that promote physical fitness and a healthy lifestyle. Along with this important life skill, P.E. also aims to teach cooperation, taking turns and following rules among other social skills. Martial arts teach all of these and more.
It's obvious that martial arts are a great form of physical fitness just as the activities in P.E. are, but martial arts have an advantage. Martial arts are exercises that children, adolescents, adults and even older adults can practice regularly - it is an activity that can continue through life. Unlike "pickle ball" or the "shuttle run", school children won't outgrow the ability or desire to practice martial arts as they get older. It is a lifestyle rather than an exercise.
The social skills taught in P.E. can also be enhanced through martial arts. Because of the nature of martial arts, people often find that practicing martial arts requires concentration and focus and these skills carry over to other parts of life as well - including school work and, later, jobs and family. Additionally, martial arts tend to focus on respect (both for self and others) which is a great asset for any school child and will give the child the skills needed to cooperate, take turns and follow rules appropriately.
Some people worry that teaching martial arts in schools will foster a sense of violence and give bullies the skills they need to continue harming others. Martial arts do the opposite, however. A common characteristic of bullies is that they lack impulse control and also don't know how to manage their anger. Martial arts can solve for that because it helps reduce stress, it improves concentration and control and it teaches respect of others. In this sense, it also helps children who are bullied because it gives them the confidence they need to combat bullying before it even starts.
Just think about the change in society if everyone had martial arts as part of their daily lives. We'd be more physically fit, but we'd also have a greater sense of respect towards one another as well."
Showing posts with label kids. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kids. Show all posts
Wednesday, 7 March 2007
Martial arts helping kids avoid school violence
Great article in the Bermuda Sun
on the positive influence Martial Arts can have for kids, excerpts follow
"School violence has always been an enormous problem and there are no easy solutions to combat this dilemma. The fact of the matter is one solution may work with one child and be detrimental to another. Every child has different emotional needs and dreams. That's why this problem is so massive and needs everyone in our community to help curve this negative behavioural problem."
"Parents are the first lines of defence. Ensure that you are actively finding your children positive activities to do and make sure the organization is a positive source and role model for your child."
This is critical - parents need to make the effort to ensure that the organisation is appropriate and that the child (and parent) as comfortable and standards are upheld.
"Martial art programmes teach children to be more disciplined and focused. These two attributes alone will assist parents to shape their children to be more goals oriented."
"The martial art classes also teach students to avoid violence and further more how to identify it before it is too late. Bullying is a huge problem in schools and martial arts provide the willpower to teach children to be more confident and to look a potential bully in the eye and identify their traits and avoid them. Confidence is a huge trait our children need to have in order to avoid peer pressure and to tell their friends no when it will involve a violent act or bullying. In addition, martial arts also teach self pride. If our children are proud of themselves they will not need to depend on someone else to make them feel good about themselves. In other words, they don't need to prove who they are to anyone. Being different is good and acceptable."
"Also, let us not forget respect for others. It is very important that our children learn respect for their parents, grandparents, teachers, friends and themselves. Martial arts are a perfect parenting partner to help raise awesome children who ultimately will be our future leaders."
Amen
on the positive influence Martial Arts can have for kids, excerpts follow
"School violence has always been an enormous problem and there are no easy solutions to combat this dilemma. The fact of the matter is one solution may work with one child and be detrimental to another. Every child has different emotional needs and dreams. That's why this problem is so massive and needs everyone in our community to help curve this negative behavioural problem."
"Parents are the first lines of defence. Ensure that you are actively finding your children positive activities to do and make sure the organization is a positive source and role model for your child."
This is critical - parents need to make the effort to ensure that the organisation is appropriate and that the child (and parent) as comfortable and standards are upheld.
"Martial art programmes teach children to be more disciplined and focused. These two attributes alone will assist parents to shape their children to be more goals oriented."
"The martial art classes also teach students to avoid violence and further more how to identify it before it is too late. Bullying is a huge problem in schools and martial arts provide the willpower to teach children to be more confident and to look a potential bully in the eye and identify their traits and avoid them. Confidence is a huge trait our children need to have in order to avoid peer pressure and to tell their friends no when it will involve a violent act or bullying. In addition, martial arts also teach self pride. If our children are proud of themselves they will not need to depend on someone else to make them feel good about themselves. In other words, they don't need to prove who they are to anyone. Being different is good and acceptable."
"Also, let us not forget respect for others. It is very important that our children learn respect for their parents, grandparents, teachers, friends and themselves. Martial arts are a perfect parenting partner to help raise awesome children who ultimately will be our future leaders."
Amen
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