Should I Sign up my Daughter or son in the Martial Arts?

With the launch of the latest Karate Kid motion picture last week, a great number of parents are curious if they should enroll their kids in a karate school. If you or your kid has never joined a martial arts class prior, it may be a daunting decision that comes with a number of questions.

The biggest worry amongst the majority of parents is whether their child is going to be safe when practicing with other children. That is a very valid concern, because many of the martial arts require some contact with other kids when practicing self-defense techniques, throws, or sparring. Nonetheless, most instructors obtain help from assistant instructors during children's classes to try and reduce accidents from happening. Furthermore, many dojos implement a minimum age requirement for sparring and other techniques that entail contact amongst students. The greatest guidance I can provide you with would be to observe your kid take an introductory class prior to becoming a member of any martial arts class. It will be easy to see quickly whether or not your child is comfortable in the dojo by her or his body language when interacting with other kids and the trainers. In most areas, you'll find a number of schools to pick from, so you will likely want to visit a few before becoming a member of any school.

The second most important issue amongst many parents is the level of dedication to training martial arts classes will require of their children. Much like any sport or activity, your child has a higher rate of success when they go to every class and spend time training outside of class. Based on your kid's athletic capabilities, he or she might be able to do well without training at your home, but the typical martial artist spends time everyday sharpening their skills. That said, most parents are afraid their child's education will come second to the martial art, and their child's grades will begin to slide. Yet, a large number of martial arts schools have a policy in place stating that kids maintain a specific grade point average if they would like to participate in lessons.

As a whole, the gains to enrolling your kids in a martial arts class far outweigh the cons. The large majority of senseis place a significant emphasis on respect for authority and discipline, which can be enormously beneficial qualities for your children to get educated about during their impressionable childhood. In nearly all schools, kids are told that negative activities like fighting, drug use, bad language, and vandalism are intolerable and will result in an expulsion from upcoming lessons.

With just about 64% of Americans overweight, boys and girls can drastically benefit from keeping active in a healthy activity like Taekwondo or Karate. A lot of martial arts provide a high amount of physical exercise for their members, and by teaching your kids the enjoyment of physical activity at a youthful age, they have a greater possibility of growing to be healthy grown ups. As they develop and get in better shape, children are inclined to see a spike in self-esteem, which can make a considerable difference in other facets of his or her life.

Possibly the biggest advantage of enrolling your child in karate is that she or he will discover a new set of skills that can help them protect themselves if assaulted. Despite the fact that fighting is frowned upon in most karate schools, self-defense techniques are a common part of the program. Instructors strive to coach students to protect themselves in conditions where they are in physical danger or being bullied. As a parent, you'll sleep much better at night knowing that your child is not defenseless in the event of a kidnapping attempt.

After reading this article, if you are still unwilling to register your kid in a martial art school, you might possibly want to give consideration to taking a class with your kid to soothe any fears you might have. I'm sure you will quickly learn that there is almost nothing to stress about.

As a father and martial artist, author Kyle Keniston is currently the manager of a martial art supplies corporation called Karate Mart. You are able to head over to his internet site at http://www.KarateMart.com