Many kids these days lead a sedentary lifestyle, spending long hours on their mobile phones and hardly going out to play. It is becoming essential that the parents encourage them to stay active and healthy. Traditional sports like basketball, swimming, and soccer certainly have their merits. There is one sport that offers many additional benefits – martial arts.
In the ancient world, martial arts such as Judo, Karate, Kung Fu, Taekwondo, and others were not just useful for building physical strength, they also helped in discipline, mental resilience, and improved overall wellbeing too. Take for instance karate. It can make the kids learn self-defense techniques and make them more competitive. This sport can also make the kids more focused, stronger, and healthier, thus impacting their overall well-being.
The Many Martial Arts Disciplines
There are around 200 distinct martial arts disciplines, each having its specific schools or styles and each style with its own philosophy and tradition. Each discipline is unique. But they all have a common goal, which is to gain defensive skills against physical threat, which is why martial arts is a part of the modern-day fitness industry. There is also a deep sense of spirituality in many of these disciplines.
Now, martial arts is studied for many reasons, including fitness, self-defense, self-cultivation, mental discipline, self-confidence, and character development. This is why it can be the perfect sport for young children.
According to estimates, more than 100 million people worldwide practice various forms of martial arts. There are many tournaments too. In this sports and esports analytics platform, you can know the latest tournaments, scores, and odds of various sporting events.
The Many Benefits of Martial Arts
- Builds strength and flexibility – Most disciplines have strict training routines with many striking and blocking techniques. It’s a full-body exercise, which helps the kids develop agility, strength, and flexibility. Karate is good because it promotes a balanced overall body development, unlike many others that focus on particular muscles.
- Cardiovascular fitness – The high-intensity martial arts training improves cardiovascular health. The combination of anaerobic and aerobic exercises and constant movement improves the functioning of both the lungs and the heart.
- Physical health – Rigorous training will help in the burning of calories. It builds muscle strength, improves cardiovascular endurance, and boosts flexibility. The various techniques will also improve agility, coordination, and body control. The active lifestyle will help them become healthier individuals.
- Balance and coordination – Many martial arts activities involve a focus on coordination and balance. Through the intricate movements, the kids will be able to develop posture, spatial awareness, and coordination. These skills will help them in many ways in later life.
- Mental focus – The various mental health benefits of martial arts often remain understated. Acute awareness of the surroundings and mental concentration are needed for these physical activities. Regular practice of dynamic movements is a kind of moving meditation, which reduces stress and enhances cognitive functions. Redirecting all efforts towards martial arts may even help them gain mental clarity.
- Concentration and discipline – Martial arts demands unwavering focus and total discipline. Young children will have to memorize the various movements and then execute the techniques. As a result, they will have to concentrate on the task, which will improve their attention time and also self-control.
- Stress reduction – Even young children these days have to cope with stress, thanks to the increasing academic demands and expectations of the families. Practicing martial arts can help them kick out the anxiety and stress. Techniques like controlled breathing and meditation, which are often integrated into the discipline, will promote mindfulness and a sense of calm.
- Goal setting and achievement – The children will work to achieve various milestones and win accolades. For example, in karate, there are various belts they can earn, which will give them a sense of progress and build their self-esteem and morale. This sense of progress will make them more confident in other areas of their lives like academics.
There are many other advantages. For example, practicing martial arts will make them more assertive and improve their sense of self-worth, which can be a stepping stone to achieving other life goals. Facing opponents, overcoming challenges, and picking up new techniques, will instill a sense of empowerment, which will extend beyond martial arts.
Here are some other benefits that will serve them throughout their life –
- Respect and empathy – By practicing martial arts, they will develop respect for themselves and also others. Children will learn the importance of respecting their peers, opponents, and instructors, which will promote good sportsmanship and empathy.
- Develop community feeling – They will train together, learn from each other, and support their peers. They will develop a sense of camaraderie through social interactions. They will cultivate friendships, which can last for a lifetime. In this way, martial arts can be the platform that leads to personal growth.
- Conflict resolution – Martial arts can also give children key conflict resolution skills. They will learn how and when to use their abilities in a responsible way to avoid unnecessary confrontations.
Not just children, but even adults can gain from martial arts. In a study, the researchers recruited 21 amateur adults with some experience in taekwondo, judo, and karate, and 27 people with no experience. the test was conducted to assess the level of attention and the ability to select the correct response. The researchers found that martial arts significantly improved their attention time and alertness.
Martial arts is more than a sport. Through mental discipline, emotional growth, and physical training, it can be the path to holistic development. It is a comprehensive approach that can help them stay focused, strong, and healthy. It can foster mental resilience, emotional well-being, and physical development, which will serve them throughout their lives.