Signing up a child for martial arts classes can be a life-changing experience. These lessons take your child’s fitness to the next level and improve their mental fitness. Martial arts are a lot more than just kicking and punching- fighting techniques you can defend yourself with. It’s also rewarding experience that teaches and reinforces many life skills that will stick with them for the rest of their lives, like the importance of listening, respect, and discipline.
Martial arts teach children to work hard toward their goals
Most children have had adults talk to them about the importance of working hard, but that is seldom enough to instill true work ethic. Children have limited life experiences, many of them have yet to experience long term work for a highly valuable pay off.
Martial arts provide a safe environment for children to learn the importance of hard work, among other things.
How does martial arts teach kids to be hard workers?
1) The belt ranking system motivates!
Most every martial arts have a ranking system (most often using belts) that signifies how experienced a student is. Beginners start with a white belt, and the color of their belt darkens all the way to a black belt which signifies an advanced student.
In our system we have created a Ninja specific ranking system which helps shorten the journey from one belt to the next. At the end of the day belts are really tools that help us instill the hard work and stick-to-it iveness a Black Belt requires.
Martial arts rank progession is similar for all ages. Everyone starts start as a white belt, and has their progress marked by stripes on the belt. The higher the rank, the more stripes required to progress to the next rank.
We teach techniques by drilling skills over and over and in a variety of different ways until the move becomes a part of muscle memory. As the student’s arsenal of techniques grows they’re testing and if successful will be approved to advance to their next belt. Each belt the child gets reminds them that all their hard work has not been in vain. It makes them feel good about themselves, and their desire to earn more belts helps keeps them motivated on the mat.
2) Teaches them the importance of perseverance
Working hard is a great start but eventually the student will need to persevere. Life usually doesn’t typically reward hard work for a short amount of time. It’s about working hard for as long as you must until you reach your goal. Developing a stick to it til you do it mindset is vital to success in life. Martial arts teach children this lesson naturally. As students advance, learning increasingly complex techniques and combinations the student must preserve to succeed. In the advance ranks its uncommon for a student to succeed on their first try at many of the techniques demonstrated.
It’s only a matter of time before the child masters any technique if they decide to preserve and practice relentlessly. As they do that the kids realize they can accomplish anything if they work hard and stick to their goals. They learn that any obstacle can be overcome if you dont give up and do the right thing long enough.
3) Improves their focus
Martial arts classes require children to sit still and be quiet as their instructors demonstrate and break down techniques. They are expected to listen with their eyes – ears – body – and mouth often the small details can mean the difference between sucess and failure with a technique which is unto itself a valuable lesson.
Improving a child’s focus allows them to make the most of every lesson both on and off the mats.
4) Improves problem-solving skills
There’s an old saying that goes, “work smarter, not harder.” That doesn’t mean you should slack off during tasks; it simply means you should go about things the most intelligent way possible while working hard.
Martial arts are a lot more of a mental art than most people believe. Students are asked to be constantly observing their surroundings and reacting to them as they train, drill, and spar. Their training teaches them the importance of staying relaxed and mentally sharp even when their bodies are tired.
The more positive reinforcement a child gets for working hard, the greater the chances they will continue to do so. After a while, working hard becomes a part of the child’s personality, and it will reward them greatly for years to come.
The willingness to work hard is one of the most significant factors that determine how likely a person is to accomplish their dreams. Good work ethic often overcomes talent and other natural gifts. It is the one thing the most successful people on the planet have in common.
5) Gives them a support system
Even the most motivated adults on the planet need some encouragement once in a while. Martial art classes provides kids a support system that motivates them to keep working hard. There’s a natural desire to keep up with their peers, especially those who started around the same time they did. This helps motivate them to work hard.
We also provide words of encouragement each and every class, so the child knows their hard work has not gone unnoticed.
