Should I Enroll My Kids in Karate?

With the release of the new Karate Kid film a couple of weeks ago, a lot of people are curious whether they should sign up their kid in a martial arts class. If you or your child has never joined a karate school prior, it might be a difficult decision that comes with a great deal of questions.

The greatest concern amongst most parents is whether their child is going to be safe when practicing with other children. That is a very real concern, because most of the martial arts entail some contact with other pupils when practicing self-defense techniques, sparring, or throws. However, most Senseis get help from assistant instructors in children's classes to try to protect against accidents from happening. In addition, many schools enforce a minimum age requirement for sparring and other techniques that entail contact amongst students. The best guidance I can provide you with would be to watch your child take at least one introductory class before joining any karate dojo. It will be possible to tell right away whether or not your boy or girl is at ease in the dojo by his or her body language when interacting with other pupils and the instructors. In most areas, there are numerous schools to pick from, so you will likely want to check out a few prior to joining any school.

The second biggest concern amongst most parents is how much obligation karate lessons will demand of their kid. As with any sport or pursuit, your child has a greater rate of success when they attend every class and spend time training outside of class. Based on your kid's athletic abilities, he or she might be able to do well without practicing at your home, but the typical martial artist spends a lot of time every day honing their skills. That said, lots of parents worry their child’s education will come secondary to the martial art, and their children's grades will start to slide. Yet, a great many dojos already have a contract in place stating that children always keep a specific grade point average if they want to partake in instructional classes.

Generally, the bonuses to putting your son or daughter in a karate class far outweigh the drawbacks. Nearly all teachers place a significant emphasis on discipline and respect for authority, which can be enormously valued attributes for your children to learn during their impressionable childhood. In nearly all dojos, kids are taught that negative activities like vandalism and drug use are not allowed and will ultimately result in being removed from future classes.

With somewhere around 64% of US citizens overweight, children can greatly benefit from being active in a healthy athletic activity like Karate or Taekwondo. Nearly all martial arts provide a substantial amount of exercise for their members, and by teaching your children the pleasure of physical activity at a young age, they have a greater possibility of evolving into healthy grown ups. As they improve and get in healthier shape, children are apt to see a spike in self-esteem, which can make a enormous difference in other areas of their life.

Certainly the greatest benefit of signing up your child in karate is that she or he will acquire a new set of skills that were designed to help them protect themselves if attacked. Even though fighting is looked down on in most martial arts schools, self-defense techniques are a traditional part of the regimen. Instructors try to coach students to defend themselves in conditions where they are being bullied or are in physical danger. As a parent, you may sleep better at night knowing that your kid is not defenseless in the case of a kidnapping attempt.

After reading this article, if you are still reluctant to register your kid in a karate school, you may want to think about taking a class with your child to relieve any fears you might have. I do believe you will quickly discover that there is little to be anxious about.