An after-school program like sports, music, and video games are all beneficial after-school activities in their own way, but martial arts for kids is about so much more than just physical movement. It’s about learning valuable skills like focus, discipline, perseverance, and making fitness fun. We gathered up our top 5 reasons why Clear Lake parents choose martial arts for kids and some of them may surprise you, like #2! Read on to find out more.
Reason 1: Martial Arts for Kids Helps Kids Focus
With the rise of technology and screen time, it’s no secret that a lot of kids struggle with staying focused and concentrating. Some of it is, of course, just part of being a kid, some of it has to do with shortened attention spans with increased screen time, and some of it is due to plain old genetics if attention issues run in the family.
The good news is that we’ve found that a lot of students who have attention problems benefit greatly from a consistent after-school program. Why? Well, preschool martial arts classes are actually about way more than just punches and kicks. It’s a tool that people have been using for hundreds of years to develop character and build incredible life skills. Through fun and games in class, our instructors can sneak in quick activities that help build focus consistently over time. But aside from games, the act of martial arts itself requires discipline too. To master the physical moves, kids need to sit still, listen to their instructor, and concentrate on how to coordinate their bodies and minds.
Once they’ve done this, our instructors praise them, using positive reinforcement to create a reward connection between paying attention and being celebrated. Soon, the students understand the connection between receiving positive feedback and staying focused, and they start to see great results. This ultimately helps them achieve better grades and become more confident, which you’ll read about in Reasons 2 and 3.
Reason 2: Better Grades are Possible with Martial Arts for Kids
A lot of parents have no idea that an after-school program can help their children get better grades. How, you may ask? Here’s how it works. Through fun games in class and consistent practice of the martial arts moves, we teach them how to improve their focus and attention skills. With this improved focus, our students start to become more “indistractable.” They have better hand-eye coordination and sharper attention spans, meaning they squirm less in their seats in class and can focus on the tasks at hand.
Improved focus means improved listening, so the information is sticking better, and they can sit down to complete their assignments with a higher quality of concentration. And, because they’re retaining more information, they’re recalling that info on tests and quizzes, they’re scoring higher because of this heightened recall and voila, better grades! Yep, it’s that simple, and it does work!
Reason 3: Martial Arts is an After-School Program that Builds Confidence
Believe it or not, sometimes your child’s after-school program can lead to a decrease in confidence because they’re comparing themselves to others on their sports team or in their debate club. If your child isn’t the most athletic, or they’re somewhat shy, it can be challenging to find a program that suits them where they don’t have to worry about “letting the team down” in any way.
What’s so awesome about martial arts is that it’s an individual sport in a group setting, so our students don’t have to worry about being the best of the best. They just have to focus on being better than they were yesterday. They learn how to compare themselves not necessarily to others, which can be a losing game, but to the previous versions of themselves in order to become the best versions of themselves they can be. In this way, our students can see in real-time how awesome it feels to set and get goals, and they can understand the discipline and perseverance it takes to become successful. Those are skills they’ll take with them for life.
Another perk is that our students learn to be real cheerleaders for their peers and support each other whenever they need it. This is one of the best things about teaching martial arts to kids, seeing the way that our kids become friends and cheer each other on. For those who struggle with feeling confident inside and out, getting that support from both their instructors and their peers can be very gratifying and even start a lifelong path of confidence and happiness.
Reason 4: Our Martial Arts Instructors are Positive Role Models
If you think about it, most programs are about the result, the show in Drama Club, the games in sports. But a martial arts after-school program is different. “Winning” the belt ranking is not our sole focus. Because martial arts is an individual sport in a group setting, our instructors can take the time to hone in on each student and help them progress along their unique journey. Our instructors then become positive role models to our students, bonding with the kids and nurturing them through positive reinforcement, positive self-talk, and a focus on progress, not perfection.
The beauty of martial arts is that every black belt was once a beginner, so every instructor can teach from a place of integrity and relate to students when they’re feeling frustrated or upset! We show our students how to get back up when they’ve been knocked down, how to always stay humble no matter how far they progress, and how valuable personal development and a commitment to growth can be. Those kinds of lessons just aren’t as common in other after-school programs.
Reason 5: It’s Just Fun!
This one’s a no-brainer, Karate after-school program is just fun! Our amazing instructors make each after-school lesson fun and engaging. Our classes are centered around non-stop activity. We break each class into different sections to keep our kids engaged and learning, and we sprinkle fun games into the mix to add an element of surprise.
Fun activities and games also help our students make the connection that physical fitness and movement are sources of positive emotion, a connection that will serve them for the rest of their lives. All of this focus on fun is also how our instructors manage to sneak those life skills, like focus, confidence, and discipline, into each lesson. The kids don’t even know they’re getting the benefits of after-school program, they’re too busy having a blast! Try out our kids martial arts classes to see the difference!