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The important life skills children learn in a Karate class.

By on July 26, 2021

Karate is in itself both an art form and sport. Though the styles taught to students vary with philosophical, traditional, and technical aspects, karate remains Japan’s staple martial arts.

Today, there are about twenty three million people practicing karate around the world.

So, what’s in it for kids?  Overall, karate teaches children the mastery of the core principles needed to succeed later in life which are –

Courtesy and respect

Kids are trained to show respect by giving the sensei and fellow students an “os” greeting when coming in and going out of the dojo.

Confidence

Everyone remembers the lessons the film Karate Kid taught us about the striking differences between Japanese and western positive reinforcement. Repetitive drills often regarded as boring for western people, are the cornerstones of Karate training. It is through repetition that muscle memory is acquired and perfected in order to develop an automatic response arsenal.

Children are praised and encouraged by senseis every time they perfect the drill. This gives children hope and the will to succeed in reaching higher levels towards the black belt goal.

Focus, responsibility & self-discipline

In a karate class setting, students use mimicry to do kicks, knee, and elbow strikes, focused eye movements, grappling, and point strikes as the sensei calls out the drills. In this passive learning phase, one experiences total immersion, building strength from inside out.

Reacting freely without conscious thought is very hard to achieve. Thus, the point of performing drills regularly help children improve intensity through concentration. If your child is hyperactive or have attention deficit disorders, the drills can be very helpful. Team work also helps children respond to the team’s needs over his own, an important 21st century skill.

Self-Defense

In Karate, children are taught to never attack first. There is a misconception that using martial arts is a great way to win a conflict. It is not. On the contrary, the karate philosophy is centered on defense not offense.  Through this principle, karate discipline teaches children how to solve conflicts pragmatically without using violence.

Karate if used correctly, can be a lifetime skill that will benefit every child.

 

About Tammy Lee