Benefits of Martial Arts

19.06.2019

Have you ever had that friend that asked "Why is your son/daughter in martial arts?" I am sure you have. I am also sure that you were able to provide a great answer to that question. I was recently asked that question as well! Before I replied, I knew I really wanted to get to the heart of what we do, beyond the typical responses. So instead, I remembered a few hidden benefits that I hear most often from our parents!

Here are 4 of the hidden benefits to having a child in Martial Arts:

"Structured" Physical Activity
Notice we didn’t just say "physical activity"! It is easy for parents to take their kids to the playground and watch them have free time for an hour or so. But not our parents, they have invested in something far more valuable for their children! Our classes are made with the brain in mind and are therefore structured so that we are able to deliver the most up to date information, in a manner that each age group can retain. So not only are our students getting the physical exercise they need stay fit and healthy; they are getting the intellectual stimulation they need to help them stay sharp at school!

Socially Positive Stress Relief
There is no doubt that the pressures of school and peers weigh on our children releasing lots of cortisol which is retroactive to leading an emotionally stable lifestyle. This can be seen especially during back to school seasons. But the good news is that even after a stressful or busy day, our students are able to come to our classes where we have built a community in which they can feel safe, confident and free to be themselves. Many students also create friendships here that will last a lifetime as well!

Powerful Positive Role Models
Our Instructors are proud that you chose us to be the positive role models in your child’s life. We take that seriously which is why each of our Instructors is trained to use the SKILLZ system. SKILLZ allows us to understand each individual physically, intellectually, emotionally and socially. We are also trained in positive reinforcement techniques that can generate results quicker than many traditional systems that often cause children to step backwards behaviourally.

Little "wins" add up
We all want our children to have huge goals and to achieve them. In our martial arts programmes our students learn that each major win is accomplished through smaller victories. Every class our students work hard to earn a skill stripe; each testing cycle they are rewarded for their daily effort by achieving a new rank. This cycle continues to be reinforced and eventually they will know the elation that comes when they have their first black belt tied around their waist. This lesson is valuable beyond words and will help each child for many years in the future.

We hope this has been informational, enlightening even! Feel free to share this with your friends next time we come up in conversation!

Sincerely

The Ninja Tots and Kids Team