An after-school program like sports, music, and video games are all beneficial after-school activities in their own way. That said, martial arts for kids is about so much more than just physical movement. It’s about overcoming challenges and preparing your child to be the best young adult they can be. We gathered up our top 5 reasons why Lynbrook parents choose martial arts for kids and some of them may surprise you! 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 more screen time leading to less control over attention spans, and some of it can be genetic for kids with attention issues.
There’s good news though, a lot of students with attention problems see massive improvement with a consistent after-school program. Why? Well, martial arts for kids is 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 learn 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 kids mixed martial arts classes use positive reinforcement to continually praise them for paying attention. Soon, the students understand the connection between receiving positive feedback and staying focused, and they focus better all on their own. 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
Yes, it’s true. Martial arts classes for kids can help your child achieve better grades. How, you may ask? Here’s how it works. Through a combination of consistent practice and fun games and activities, we teach them how to improve their focus and attention skills and we talked about this above in Reason #1. With this laser focus, our students become more “indistractable.” They have better control of their bodies and can pay attention more easily, meaning they squirm less in their seats in class and can concentrate on the tasks at hand.
Better focus leads to better listening, so they retain the information better than ever before, and they can sit down to complete their assignments with a higher quality of concentration. And, because the information is “sticking” better, they’re able to recall better on tests and quizzes, they’re scoring higher because of this heightened recall and voila, better grades! Yes, it is that effective. Now you may be starting to see why parents love the benefits of after-school program!
Reason 3: Martial Arts is an After-School Program that Builds Confidence
Every parent wants their child to be confident in themselves. But sometimes, group after-school activities can lead to kids comparing themselves to others. If your child isn’t especially athletic or they’re particularly shy, it can be challenging to find an after-school program that suits them where they don’t have to worry about “letting the team down” in any way.
What’s great 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 goals and meet goals, and they can understand the discipline and perseverance it takes to become successful. Those are skills they’ll take with them for the rest of their lives.
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 have low self-esteem or just feel down about themselves, 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 after-school activities are about a result. The show in Drama Club, the games in sports. This is where martial arts after-school program is the most different from other programs. Achieving a new belt rank 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 with their unique journey. Our kids then start to see their instructors as positive role models, and our instructors are more than qualified to fill the role! They have dedicated their lives and careers to bonding with the kids and nurturing them through positive reinforcement, positive self-talk, and a focus on progress, not perfection.
One of the greatest life lessons martial arts teaches us 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 always show our students how to get back up and keep going no matter what, how to stay humble no matter how far they progress. That double lesson of perseverance and respect is just not as common in other after-school programs.
Reason 5: It’s Just Fun!
This one’s a no-brainer. The Karate after-school program is just plain 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 kids interested and continually learning in these critical years of growth and development.
Games and activities not only help the kids stay engaged with our lessons, but they 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 a way for our instructors to sneak those life skills, like focus, confidence, and discipline, into each lesson. The kids don’t even realize they’re learning something they’re too busy having a blast! Try out our kids self-defense classes and see the difference!