Back to School Success with Karate

With Back to School just around the corner it has become clearer than ever that some kids are prepared, and some are not. These past several months have proved to be incredibly challenging for both kids and parents as they coped with online learning, COVID-19, reduced physical activity, lack of routine and increased stress. Although this impact will certainly affect some children in a negative way for a long period of time, we did see the kids that participated regularly in class appeared more motivated, emotionally happier, and more disciplined. Martial Arts can certainly provide a lot of positive benefits that are more than physical and I’m sure as a parent you will have noticed some already.

During the lockdown we noticed the kids that stayed tuned in with training have continued to move forward and are still engaged with learning. How this affects them with back to school around the corner is going to be a real benefit to them. As a parent and teacher students like this make situations better and the people around them better. Martial Arts provides a platform for learning that not only challenges students physically but allows them to develop the self-discipline needed to succeed in life! Although this list could be endless, I thought I’d share three important benefits to me that martial arts provides.

1. Confidence. Learning to become confident is a skill like any other skill. You need to practise and develop it. In the dojo we ask students to try performing with confidence and to notice how it feels when they do it like that. They soon realize the positive feelings they get from doing their best in a confident way. When they show up to our class or their class at school they will inevitably be treated differently because of their confident presence. Teachers will give them increased responsibility and the ability to lead in the classroom because they have built the trust through their actions. This will further re-enforce the student’s confidence and allow them to succeed in anything they attempt to try.
2. Respect. Kids that are polite and respectful often get a little more attention. As a parent you must admit there are friends that your kids have that you love to have over for playdates. We want the best for our kids, and we want to surround them with others that bring out the best in them. In karate class the foundation of our program is respect. Kids are trained to answer, “yes sir” and “no sir”; this teaches them to be respectful of their elders and those that are in a teaching or authoritative role. Take this to their classrooms and you will see a student that is kind and courteous and if they ever need that little bit of extra help, I’m sure teachers and parents will go the extra mile for them.
3. Concentration. In karate class we work forms, patterns and techniques that teach children how to conceptually think when performing. Kids can be impulsive, and this is not usually something that serves them well in the classroom and at home. Thinking before you act is an important skill to master and allows the student to perform at their best, so increasing your focus is an important first step. When children work through their karate forms, they are forced to break down material and perform repetition which leads to further curriculum retention. At school it is no different, kids need and must have the discipline to do things more than once if they are going build good study habits. Karate students are fortunate to have a head start in this department and it will make for better grades and increased confidence as they succeed in the classroom.

Although this is a short list and it is not complete it is a good reminder to our students that they have set themselves up for further success this upcoming school year. We are very proud of your progress and we can’t wait to see you guys outperform this upcoming school year. Just continue to be the student we see at First Choice Martial Arts and you just might surprise yourself of how well you can do this year!

Sensei Chris