As a parent looking for an appropriate kids activity for your children, it is understandable that you would have some reservations about Karate and other Martial Arts. After all the concern is that:
- Your child will become more aggressive or violent, especially if they are already showing signs of being aggressive.
- It will increase their skill level so that they can do more damage to others when they are violent.
- That it sends the wrong message. That it says that fighting is OK.
- We will lose control of them as they become stronger and more skilled.
These fears are completely understandable, especially considering that we are teaching kids how to fight! But what I can tell you is that in all my years as a martial arts instructor I have never come across a case where teaching karate to a child has made them more violent. In fact what I have found is that it make violent kids less violent.
But how can this be? Is there any research to back up my years of observations? Well, as it turns out, there is a ton of research out there that does support it. It would seem that my general assumptions are based in very real clinical research. Generally, what the research finds is that Karate and other Martial Arts improve a child’s sense of self, their physical ability, confidence, sense of connectedness to others and decreased aggression!!
That’s right. Research actually shows that participation in the Martial Arts lowers aggression and the more time a child spends in the Martial Arts the fewer aggression fantasies they have! Not only that but they become more social, there is a noticeable improvement in their confidence and school grades and in their general health and well-being.
So how does Karate and the Martial Arts lower aggression and achieve those other results? Well, where the exact mechanism is not really known, some researchers believe that violence and aggression stem from fear and that the Martial Arts help reduce chronic fear and therefore reduces violent responses.
Karate, full of rhythmic activity, helps to regulate the fight or flight response which also increases the students control over their emotions. It also helps that Martial Art classes provide a safe and predictable environment that is full of consistent routine which helps the student become less frustrated (and as a result less aggressive) when they reach their cognitive capacity.
Now I do have to add that the Martial Arts instructor is important here as well. If you have a Karate Kid-esque Cobra Kai instructor, well my belief is that it will develop the wrong type of student. Fortunately those types of instructors are few and far between, but you should still do your due diligence and find out the instructors exact philosophy before signing your kid up for his class.
As more research into the benefits Karate and other Martial Arts continues and becomes available we will find that properly taught classes will help promote better children. I have included some references for those that wish to do further research, or you can head to your local Karate school and see for yourself first hand. If you’re looking for an amazing kids program in Cambridge Ontario feel free to check out http://www.karatecambridge.com/
For programs specializing in kids martial arts classes please visit: http://www.karatecambridge.com/kids-2/ or visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Blackbeltschoolscanada
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