The Role of Martial Arts in the Holistic Development of a Child
A child’s holistic growth and development starts from family and extends in school. However, quite often, the child’s development is restricted to the school environment and thereby remains stagnant without being noticed. Children lack cognitive and social skills, making them bullies and a wrong example for society. Of course, school has a very important role to play in a child’s life. However, there are a lot of other essential skills that children must be introduced to in order to help them achieve holistic development.
One such skill is Martial Arts. Martial arts can be highly useful in reshaping children’s character and mental and physical abilities. In this article, we will explore the wide range of benefits of involving children in martial arts and how they contribute to the child’s overall development.
Debunking the ‘Violence’ Myth
But, before we get into the topic, there is one major myth to debunk, which is ‘Martial arts can make your children violent.’ This myth is absurd at its peak. Martial arts are not just sports but a space that builds character. Anyone who understands and masters the art true to its core becomes disciplined and empathetic. Martial arts aren’t designed to nurture violence in a child; rather, the opposite: composure, rational thinking, and the ability to tackle the unexpected.
Martial Arts and Holistic Development
Getting back to the topic, martial arts help in developing the following attributes in children.
Focus On Self
Martial arts could be viewed as a sport as the stage events take place that way. There is a competition, there are players, and there is the audience who cheer from the pavilion. However, for the majority of children, martial arts training is like a meditation that helps them focus on themselves. There is no pressure to work for the sake of a team. Team spirit is the last thing you have to worry about. The goal of self-development rather than developing sportsmanship is more important to be a better human. Loving and accepting oneself is the way to love others.
Self-paced Training
We are living in a highly competitive world where every sport teaches you team spirit, sportsmanship, and do-or-die hard training sessions to win the rat race. However, martial arts has nothing to do with competition. Here, the learner’s development and skill are self-paced. Depending on the understanding of the child, they graduate from one level to the other sooner or later. The process of learning as you go wipes the feeling of fear and insecurity of losing amidst peers lessens, and children focus only on the art and the training process. These simplistic and realistic goals mold children into better humans.
Physical Fitness and Development
Lack of physical activity has resulted in obesity among children as well. Obesity can eventually deteriorate the health of children, further leading to other adverse impacts. Also, children must be physically fit and energetic to focus on core activities like studying and doing routine chores. Exercise is one of the best ways to achieve it. However, it is really hard to get children to do exercises on a regular basis. Fortunately, children who are into martial arts use it as a means to exert all the unnecessary energy out of their bodies and feel rejuvenated. Physical fitness aids in the proper physical development of the child at the right stages.
Promotes Self Confidence
Children who practice martial arts develop a feeling that they are equipped to face the world, and they need not have to fear anything as long as they are right. This feeling of authority over life promotes self-confidence. Young children who fall prey at the hands of bullies suffer more because of fear rather than the act itself. One should understand that martial arts does not motivate violence in any form. It is, in fact, a sport that is focused on self-defense and helps children exude confidence in life and stop fearing the unknown throughout their lives.
Builds a Disciplinarian
Martial arts training molds a child into a disciplinarian. The training sessions are designed as a strict schedule. Each part of the process is strictly adhered to. Children learn to differentiate between orders, rules, and instructions. They understand that orders and instructions take place as per the situation, while rules cannot be broken. Over time, children pick the habit of following a routine, respecting the orders of seniors, and taking accountability for their deeds. Children replicate the same in other aspects of their lives, like at home, school, and at their workplace when they grow up. This gradually brings discipline and orderliness into their life, making them organized and stress-free.
Cognitive and Psychological Development
To master martial arts, one needs dedication, concentration, and focus. When children are exposed to such an environment, they grow to master these qualities as well. Martial arts are a great way to help your children stay mentally fit. Martial art is a great option to help children with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). Children with ADHD find it hard to focus on anything for a long time. They grow anxious and keep fidgeting, making it impossible for them to shine in academics and sports. However, there are a lot of ways to help these kids, and putting them in a martial arts class is one of the best ways to do it. It helps them gain focus, improves memory and concentration skills, lowers ADHD, and helps them win over anxiety and depression. It fine-tunes the motor skills of the children, improves their coordination, and balances their reflexes.
Social Behavior
Martial arts influence the social behavior of the children. This could be a child’s organized setup apart from school. Training schools teach a different social setting where children learn to understand and respect the differences they see in their peers. They learn to see past the cultural and social barriers and learn to become better humans. Martial arts academies like the imperialtrainingcenter create a gender-neutral, safe, and friendly atmosphere for learners. Martial arts school is a place that teaches you to break barriers, explore your strengths, and be a better version of yourself. It helps maintain a healthy relationship with peers. It fosters group training and team spirit, which will be very useful for children who are closeted or have issues mingling with others. Children who feel lonely and detached can make friends here.
Face the Bullies
The world has bullies in every place. Children might end up facing one in a bus, school, or simply anywhere else. The key idea is to help them gain the strength and courage to face it. They must also be taught to stay aware of their surroundings. Physical training helps them gain control over their body and mind and helps them with swift moves and agile physique. When we say facing the bullies, we are not saying that trained children are always ready to fight. We are simply saying that they will be ready to defend themselves and put their foot strong in forcing their bullies to retreat. This way, we can prevent children from being victims of bullying. When more children are equipped to stay mentally strong and fight back, we send the bullies a strong message that not everybody can be an easy target.
Conclusion
Having seen the immense benefits of martial arts, if you are an adult reading this, you can still try it out, as martial arts are for all ages. If you are a parent, it is high time you consider martial arts a serious hobby for your kids. It is important that we help our children achieve great mental and physical health. Do not be bothered. Not all martial artists become fighters and wrestlers. Many common people from different walks of life are well-trained in martial arts. So, give it a try and see your children wholesomely blossom before your eyes.
