When it comes to Martial Arts, there is more to it than the physical components. Yes your child will learn Self Defence, yes they will work towards (and reach) their developmental milestones (balance, coordination, balance etc), and yes they will improve their focus and attention. But there is so much more to Martial Arts for kids.
In todays blog, I’m going to share with you something extra that Martial Arts does for your child:
Improves their Discipline:
One of the reasons you might enrol your child in Martial Arts, is because you want them to be better disciplined. Better at listening, following direction (even multi step directions), and improving their attention span. Martial Arts is a tool that will help your child nurture and develop these qualities.
Consider this, in a Martial Arts class your child must pay attention to the instructor as he/she explains the techniques and movements. Your child must then perform these movements with the rest of the class. This example shows LISTENING to the task, PAYING ATTENTION to what needs to be done, and FOLLOWING direction by performing the combination that could be 1, 2, even 5 movements long.
The common misconception from parents is this – if my child isn’t paying attention in class, then Martial Arts isn’t for them. Martial Arts is the device that is going to help improve their discipline. Discipline isn’t improved by playing video games, or watching shows on TV. It is something that needs to be developed and then nurtured – and yes some kids take a little longer.
Just like we go to school to learn and improve our skills, knowledge and critical thinking, we send our kids to Martial Arts so they can improve their discipline, focus and attention.
Master Christopher Ingrati
6th Dan Kukkiwon Taekwondo Black Belt
Muay Thai Instructor
Curriculum Developer
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Education Degree UNSW