Tag: karate

How Karate Helps Children Improve their Grades

Posted on | by Jason

Nowadays, the average American child spends the majority of the day at school, returning home only to face more hours of homework or studying various subjects for tests the following day or week. The pressure that a young child faces in school has grown increasingly over the decades, as more and more is expected from each and every child. Some children are able to cope with this pressure better than others. All parents want their kids to study hard and get excellent grades, to improve their chances of success in career and life. Like it or not, the grades that a child gets in school does ultimately affect their education and professional opportunities in the future. Fortunately, there are some proven ways that parents can help their children improve their academic performances and achievements.

Unending support

The first mistake a parent should avoid making is to simply give up hope, shrug his or her shoulders, and abandon a child who is suffering academically. Some parents are quick to write off their children’s grades, often claiming that their children are “not built for school” or “do not take exams well” or “just have a poor teacher this year.” It is both the child’s and parents’ responsibility to ensure that he she performs as well as possible in school, and communicates frequently with the teachers on progress and concerns.

Something that parents need to understand is that children value things differently than adults. As adults with experience, it is quite apparent to us that one’s opportunities will depend on the grades that one gets. However, some children may not have the ability to see academics in that way and set goals for themselves. They can’t visualize the end result – or plot and stay on a course to get there. Creating value for academics begins with helping children understand where their interests lie, and setting goals to achieve what they’re willing to work for. Once this is understood, then a child may need very little of any kind of external motivation.

Understand your child

In certain cases, children may just go through the motions at school in a very mechanical manner, without particularly trying to understand the value of an education. The best way to help a child improve his or her grades is by helping to develop an interest in the subjects being taught. When a child is able to apply what he or she is learning at school in their day-to-day lives, they will naturally begin to understand its worth far better. As such, parents must take time to make a significant personal investment into their children’s education to help better their grades. You can try enrolling your child for karate classes for a wide range of life-changing benefits to mental and physical health. Karate helps children improve their concentration and focusing power, which will ultimately lead to better grades. Teachers frequently remark on the differences and
advancements they observe in children who become “karate kids.”

How Karate Develops Courtesy in Kids

Posted on | by Jason

Although a fair amount of mayhem and lack of unity might be apparent in some karate class segments – particularly with very young children – the practice of karate is far more than fighting, shouting, and jumping around! Martial arts gradually make kids self-disciplined and self- confident. Consistent training in a quality karate for kids program makes a habit of respect and courtesy for their teachers, classmates, and elders. During the training children are taught to address their seniors respectfully. They are taught a positive attitude towards life which increases their sense of responsibility. Karate training makes children confident as it teaches the self- control and self-esteem which increases their sense of self-worth – and affects how others view them as individuals.

Karate and discipline

The rigorous training and practice that is involved in various martial art styles instills values
of honesty and hard work among children, adolescents, and teens. As children interact in close quarters, they steadily learn from classmates how to improve their moves along with their speech and behavior. They learn the necessity of rules and importance of making loyal, honorable choices in every sphere of life, which helps with their self-discipline too.

In free sparring practice, students develop the power to concentrate, anticipate, and even influence their opponents’ moves to avoid being “hit” or “scored upon” – then respond with a swift, well-rehearsed counter-attack. A quality karate for kids program helps students of all ages develop the power to think quickly to achieve victory, to shut out distractions, and to concentrate on work at hand for longer periods of time.

Karate and courtesy

By learning to show courtesy and respect for their teachers and classmates, children learn
to appreciate abilities of each other and hone their personal skills. This develops a sense of cooperative learning and kind consideration for each other. The simple acts of bowing to teachers and training partners, raising a hand to speak, holding a particular stance until instructed to move, and so on develops an awareness that spawns courteous and respectful behavior, which oftentimes is returned. Respect, gratitude, humility, and duty are moral concepts and values central to the philosophies of certain traditional martial art forms.
Karate and personality

Children and adults learning karate are advised to follow a healthy, balanced diet to help them meet personal physical goals for health and well-being. The training programs are a mix of fun and learning, with a seemingly endless supply knowledge and proficiency to acquire, which keeps the interest and motivation for progress thriving. With a little practice, most students become accomplished both physically and mentally in diverse ways and “personal victories.” Karate enhances balance and control over posture, body language, and body movements. It has the capability of improving the self-image, the outlook, and the personality of an individual which often leads to new paths of opportunity and growth.

Children who learn karate from a young age become leaders over a period of time as their self- confidence and proficiency grows. In time they show readiness to take on responsibility and their off to the races! A firm foundation in respect and courtesy is a magnificent starting point and touchstone for all people everywhere.

Establishing Leadership Traits in Young Children

Posted on | by Jason

Leadership skills are highly valued in today’s competitive and fast-paced society. Whether it
is being captain of a sports team, managing a group of working professionals, or heading the community council, being a leader requires a set of skills that not everyone possesses. The only way to develop these skills is to put oneself in a position where he or she is able to constantly practice and hone them. The same is true with young children as well. The important thing to understand about leadership is that it is completely learned. No single individual is born a leader – but each and all can become one, through

  1. immediate, fateful circumstance (as in rising to a unique occasion)
  2. decades of hard-won experience, or
  3. dedicated, deliberate, and enjoyable training in a qualified program

The importance of confidence

One of the most important traits of an effective leader is self-confidence. It is certainly true that some children are more confident in their thoughts and actions than others. Confidence is important because precisely because the perception of one’s self is contagious! If one individual is able to display confidence in a thought or idea among a group of people, it sets the premise for relationships based on trust to be developed. However, it is also important to remember that confidence is not the only trait that a leader requires. In some cases, over-confidence or blind confidence can hold a leader back. Enrolling your child for karate classes at a young age is a good way to make them confident and self-reliant.

Do as I do, not as I say

Another factor to remember is that leaders typically don’t begin as “leaders” who give out instructions and command people to perform tasks and actions. The best leaders first experiences performing these actions himself or herself – as a follower – so that he or she can understand the effort and skill required. In doing so, a leader will increase his or her effectiveness in communicating and empathizing with team members under him and getting best results.

Another key trait that all leaders need is decision-making ability. This seems oddly difficult for many adults and most children! A leader must be able to view a situation and analyze it completely before developing a plan to tackle it, without falling prey to “paralysis of analysis.” Decisiveness is perhaps the most important trait of a leader, as it will determine whether a team is successful or not. Confidence in following through with a plan is important, but a calm, informed mind to make sound decisions is absolutely imperative for ultimate success and ROI.

Developing these traits is no easy job. Children can often feel uncomfortable or frightened when placed in leadership positions initially. However, many karate for kids programs make the training appealing to each age groups – playful for some, strictly disciplined for others – so that the leadership lessons are absorbed and experienced in several ways. In time, leadership practice feels more natural and fun, something to look forward to! As a parent, it is extremely important to encourage and motivate a child who takes on the added responsibility of being a leader, even if he or she may not succeed at first. Your karate instructors will be glad to help you and your child address training goals and needs too. Anyone can be a leader with dedication and practice at a qualified instructional facility with caring, capable teachers.

Always Try Your Best

Posted on | by Jason

Always Try Your Best

“Do your best and hope for the rest.” A common quote that most of us have heard at some point in our lives, but how much sense does it really make in a world where people have managed to foolishly convince themselves that they can all achieve the same levels of success? The answer is “not much.” Sadly, this is the world our children are also growing up in. The pressure on them to fit in and be as good as or better than the other person, to earn more, have more, go more, and so on is an unfortunate mainstay in our consumerism driven society.

Each child is unique

The cold, hard truth is that all of us do not have the same talents or qualities. In the whole mixed and segmented mass of humanity throughout our existence, it is amazing to know that each of us is unique and special in our own way. Each beloved child is unique as well, and has his or her own potential and capabilities. Some are smart, some are artistic, and some are athletic.

The key to your finding and unlocking their area of excellence is two-fold: first, to allow them to try different things throughout their formative years, from little ones to maturing teens. Until they try, they will never really know what they’re good at! Secondly, we must acknowledge and fulfill our role as the provider of those opportunities (to experiment in diverse hobbies and activities) as well as the subtle guide, teacher, supporter, and straight- shooter for them along the way.

If we attempt to force our children into be successful at everything they do, the inevitable result is stress, resentment, and a dislike for everything they’re forced to try. We must help them find opportunities, resources, and time to dabble and sample, to mess up and start over, to find their true passions through trial and error. Once an area of interest and potential has been discovered in them, it is our responsibility as parents and teachers to give them as many chances as possible to learn, grow, and perform at their peak ability levels.

Test their capabilities through karate

Enrolling your child for karate classes is a fantastic way to expand your child’s capabilities, interests, character traits, and positive outlook. Karate isn’t just a proven way to defend yourself from bullies and bad guys, though it certainly is that! Karate works on the principles of self-discipline, focus, concentration, patience, and achieving goals. The focus here is not for your child to master the art of karate, but to probe his or her true potential and gain new self-confidence and respect through perseverance and good attitude. Training year-round in a martial art is shown to better their performance in other sports and academics as well!

One of the five core ethics of karate philosophy is “to strive for the perfection of character.” The word ‘strive’ implies that we can only “try” being perfect at something but never really achieve it. However, the greater control of our bodies and minds that we develop, the closer we come to reaching that ultimate goal. It is only when we try our best that we come to know our limits – and set new ones!