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Facts about Martial Arts for Kids - Part 2
from: Paul M. Jerard Jr.In this continuing series, let's address more issues and
frequently asked questions that concern parents who seek to
enroll their child in a martial arts program. The first question
in this part is possibly the most important one of all.
How do I find the right martial arts teacher for my kids?
You will know when you have a face-to-face meeting and observe
him or her teach a martial arts class. The chemistry between a
prospective martial arts teacher and you should be good.
After all, your child is supposed to learn courtesy, respect,
self-discipline, goal setting, and many more life skills from
his or her martial arts instructor. If the martial arts teacher
you are considering displays none of the above-mentioned
qualities, please continue to shop around.
It makes no difference if your child is learning Karate,
Jujitsu, Aikido, Judo, Tae Kwon Do, or Kung Fu, when the teacher
is not a good role model. You don't need to expose your children
to hazards or questionable characters in order for them to learn
martial arts. The martial arts school philosophy, and the
instructors, should meet your standard - never settle for less.
Are you looking for discipline, academic improvement, life
skills, tournament competition, self-defense, or a positive
activity? Martial arts studios are not created equally. A life
skills school may not meet the needs of a competitive parent or
child. A "tournament school" that teaches Sport Karate, Sport
Jujitsu, or enters many competitions, may be lacking in life
skills and so forth.
This is not meant to take away the value of any aspect in
martial arts training, but to make you, as a parent, aware that
the emphasis will be different from one type of school to
another. Also, the self-defense aspect will be taught
differently within each martial arts school. Some martial arts
schools teach more of one technique such as: punching, kicking,
joint locks, sweeps, and throws.
At our wellness center in North Providence, Rhode Island, we
teach all of those aspects, and we also teach self-defense
through communication. For example: Wouldn't it be better to
prevent a physical conflict by talking it out? If a child is
fully capable of defending himself or herself, why should he or
she pursue a physical fight?
As adults, we know that the diplomatic approach to a physical
conflict will not always work, but it is worth a try. Our
children need to look at social skills, awareness, and courtesy
as survival tools. Whether they are walking down a street, or
entering the workplace, these skills are extremely important.
Know your goals and your child's needs. Please make sure your
reasons for enrolling your son or daughter in martial arts
classes are sound. Martial arts for your child, is his or her
personal endeavor. You can share in the feeling of
accomplishment by being supportive and watch them grow to be
successful. Success is one of the most important gifts we can
give to our children.
The ideal martial arts instructor should have knowledge of
sports medicine and CPR training. This may be one of the reasons
why serious injuries are rare. Make sure that the safety of each
child is a priority with the martial arts school you choose.
Some parents may feel I play it too safe within a karate class,
but they have not seen a child knocked unconscious, a broken
nose, or loss of blood, in my school. When I was a Sport Karate
coach, referee, and judge, I saw all of those things in
tournaments, and children were all wearing protective equipment.
Therefore, safety precautions are a very important factor, when
deciding which martial arts school you should choose for your
child.
© Copyright 2005 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
About the author:
Paul Jerard is the director of Yoga teacher training at Aura in
RI. He's a master instructor of martial arts and Yoga. He
teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness. He wrote: Is Running a
Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students wanting to be a
Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org
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