Have you ever secretly wished (or perhaps not-so-secretly) that your child could harness his super-human energy for the powers of Good? Has a teacher, a friend, or a relative ever told you, "Wow, she's certainly got a lot of energy!"
Or how about the nearly extinct art of good manners? We parents understand that to respect others we must first respect ourselves. So we hunt for ways to instill that hard-to-catch mix of self-confidence balanced by humility.
According to doctors, specifically The American Academy of Pediatrics, martial arts may be the answer for your child. Here are 6 benefits these Board-Certified Pediatricians say children receive from martial arts.
6 Rewards From Martial Arts, According to Doctors
- Better social skills
- Discipline
- Respect
- Concentration and focus
- Improved motor skills (dexterity)
- Self-confidence
Wow. Every parent I know, myself included, would consider themselves successful if we were able to coach these qualities into our kids. With these six traits, you're ready to handle virtually whatever life throws at you.
But let me give you two more....
7. Martial arts is fun!
8. Kids who train in martial arts begin a life-long process of making friends with like-minded people. This is a lesson too many adults learn too late in life, if they learn it at all. I don't mean that it's good to hang around with people that "agree with everything you say and think" all the time. What I am referring to is the advantage and momentum you gain when you surround yourself with people who are on the same journey. If you care about improving yourself, then you want to spend most of your time with others who are committed to do the same. Hang around with smokers, chances are you'll pick up the habit. Hang around with runners, chances are you'll run with them. Similarly, honors students tend to stick together, and don't often co-mingle with their classmates that skip school or look for every opportunity to disrupt a class.
# 8 can feel a little harsh. It hits right between the eyes, for sure. But there's a lot at stake with our kids, so I think the truth, while sometimes a difficult pill to swallow, is a necessary one.
Now, watch this video of a 5th grader performing on the Dr. Oz TV show. In this short video you can see every one of the above benefits martial arts has given this young man. Plus, he puts on a great show!
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