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 fitness with a purpose and helping your child become the absolute best version of themselves, inside and out. We gathered up our top 5 reasons why Foster City 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
If you’re like the majority of modern parents, you may have noticed that a lot of kids struggle with focus and concentration. Some of it’s 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 is due to plain old genetics if attention issues run in the family.
What’s cool is that kids martial arts classes help students with attention problems and trouble focusing. 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 build incredible life skills. Through fun and games in class, our instructors can sneak in quick activities that help build focus consistently over time. Aside from games, the act of martial arts itself requires discipline too. To master the physical moves, kids need to be still, listen intently, and concentrate on what they’re doing.
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 focus better all on their own. The after-school program 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
Did you know that an after-school program can help your child get better grades? Here’s the breakdown: Through fun games in class and consistent practice of the martial arts moves, we teach them how to improve their focus and attention skills (see Reason #1). With this newfound 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 during class and can concentrate on the tasks at hand.
Improved focus means improved listening, so they’re retaining the information better than ever before, and completing their assignments with a higher quality of concentration. And, because they’re retaining more information, they’re able to recall better on tests and quizzes, they’re scoring higher because of this heightened recall, and voila–better grades! It is that simple and it does work!
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 the most athletic, or they’re somewhat shy, it may 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. The reason why martial arts is great for this particular kind of child is because 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 to keep improving. In this way, our students can continually see how awesome it feels to set 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 life. Another perk is that our students learn to be real cheerleaders for their peers, supporting 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 low self-esteem, 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 martial arts after-school program is about a result; the show in Drama Club, the games in sports, etc. This is where martial arts is the most different from other programs. “Winning” the belt ranking is not our sole focus. Remember how martial arts is a tool for self-development? Pairing that with the individual nature of the sport (individual sport in a group setting), our instructors can hone in on each student and help them with their unique journey. Our instructors then become positive role models to our students, bonding with the kids and encouraging them through positive reinforcement, positive self-talk, and a focus on progress, not perfection.
What’s so awesome about martial arts is that every black belt was once a beginner, so every instructor teaches with integrity. They know what it’s like to be frustrated or upset, but they also know how valuable it is to keep going! We always show our students how to get back up and keep going no matter what. We teach them how to stay humble, no matter how far they progress. That sense of respect and discipline is not something you see in other after-school programs.
Reason 5: It’s Just Fun!
This one’s a no-brainer; our karate after-school program is just fun! Our awesome 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 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. This big focus on fun is also how our instructors manage to sneak the benefits of after-school program like focus, confidence, and discipline, into each lesson. The kids don’t even know they’re learning something–they’re too busy having a blast. Try out our kids martial arts classes trial now!