Now more than ever, kids are majorly impressing their parents with their kids martial arts classes transformations, helping them achieve better grades and become more confident people. That’s because martial arts for kids is about a LOT more than just punches and kicks. It’s about helping kids become the best versions of themselves they can possibly be! Read on to find out more about this amazing sport and after-school activity.
Discipline and Success in Kids Martial Arts Classes
First things first… What does “success” mean to you? Some people define success through wealth, material goods, the time they spend with their family, or the number of lives they impact, but there’s no one concrete definition. No matter how you slice it, most successful people, like world-famous athletes, celebrities and business leaders, can attribute all of their success to one key thing- never, ever, EVER giving up.
Something we tend to forget is that every successful person we see was once a child themselves, and somewhere along the way they turned their talents into lasting success mostly through perseverance. It’s not a coincidence that we teach perseverance and discipline in every single class, every single week. Learning these skills is how leaders are formed.
Persevering through the tougher parts of life and disciplining oneself to do what’s right, even when it’s difficult, makes a good person great. These skills make people kind, compassionate, respectful to others, and they create better community members and industry leaders. Can you see why it’s so critical to establish discipline and perseverance early on? Especially if you want your child to become the most successful versions of themselves, however they define it- you have to lay that foundation ASAP.
Self-discipline and perseverance are critical for performance in school too. That’s why we’ve seen countless students enter their first martial arts class with low grades and behavior problems, and soon experience major behavioral improvements and get higher grades to boot. We help them become “indistractable,” listen thoughtfully to their teachers, instructors, parents and peers, and learn how to inspire themselves to do their school work without an adult’s influence. Kind of awesome!
Martial Arts Teaches Kids CONFIDENCE
So over the span of their martial arts classes, we see these kids totally transform. They get better grades, push through to achieve their goals, behave like angels- it’s wonderful for us as adults (and, of course, for the kids too). But you probably want to know, how do MA classes benefit your child RIGHT NOW? What are the short-term benefits to complement the life-long habits of success we’re building?
Well, the best thing about martial arts is that the punches and kicks, though life-saving as you grow older, are kind of a disguise for something deeper. Martial arts isn’t just a self-defense curriculum. It’s a tool we use to teach real inner and outer confidence that’s going to help kids right off the bat.
Martial arts can be challenging for kids, especially as they’re just starting to learn hand-eye coordination and focus. When they’re trying and trying to get a certain move right and continue to persevere because they KNOW they can do it, that’s confidence. When they’re persevering because they think they’re dumb, a failure, or that they’re not going to make someone proud, that’s definitely not confidence. You have to pair both the discipline and the true confidence to have your child become the best they can be.
So in those moments when your child is struggling, our instructors come in and teach them how to positively talk to themselves. Instead of “I can’t, I’m dumb, I’ll never get it so what’s the point,” we teach our students to say “I can and I will, I’m trying my best, and I will keep going until I achieve my goal.” And the remarkable thing is, this positive self-talk starts to have a real impact.
The kids become more confident because our instructors get through to them. They see that they can truly do anything they put their mind to (with the right attitude), and they make themselves PROUD every week in class by doing more and more cool things. Some of our favorite moments are with kids who enter our classes shy and unconfident and end up letting their real personalities shine through!
One more thing on this. Confidence is REALLY important for helping kids become what we call bully-proof. If there are bullies at school (and in your child’s own head), they don’t stand a chance against a confident child. A confident child isn’t afraid to stand up for themselves and others who are being picked on. How amazing would it be if ALL kids were like this! This is why we strongly believe all children should take martial arts classes. The benefits are honestly endless.
Martial Arts is For EVERYONE
Now that you understand how martial arts classes build the foundation for life-long success we’ve established how martial arts fosters life-changing success skills in kids}, we’ll touch on two other practical benefits. First, another cool thing about martial arts is that it’s a great place for kids who are in other sports, as they’ll learn those awesome skills that make them a better athlete overall… But it’s also a real home for kids who are not so athletic and may feel left out because of it.
Because martial arts is an individual sport in a group setting, kids who maybe aren’t so athletic don’t have to worry about “letting their team down” or being picked on. All they focus on is their own growth and improvement (while they cheer on their peers of course!). And because it’s an individual sport, kids learn how to set and get their own goals and recognize their own achievements. It’s perfect for boosting that confidence in not-so-sporty kids and allowing them to build a healthy relationship with physical activity.
Don’t forget that martial arts is a form of self defense. Self defense is an important and life-saving skill for EVERYONE to have in their back pocket, no matter their age, gender or ability. It’s a skill you don’t want to have to use, but will definitely wish you learned if you need it. Don’t worry- we don’t make bullies in our program. We teach nonviolent forms of conflict resolution and show students that physical self defense should ONLY be used as a last resort. But, if a bully gets violent or an emergency happens, it’s important for your child to know how to protect themselves.
Join our Kids Classes!
Now you know why more kids than ever are taking martial arts classes! Martial arts is an amazing tool we use to teach kids the life-changing skills of discipline, perseverance, and confidence. Plus, it’s a great sport for any child to be proud of their accomplishments and become positive leaders in their community! Get started today with our risk-free trial. Your child will LOVE IT! Kids martial arts.