The media doesn’t always give us the most accurate depiction of martial arts. It’s often portrayed as violent or aggressive when really, there’s much more to it than the “fighting”. Although martial arts is a very physical sport, it is a sport that puts a lot more focus and attention on the values it has.

Truth is, based on opinion alone, you’re probably going to be unlikely in convincing any friends or parents to join or to sign their children up. However, if they knew more about the skills that kids can learn from martial arts, they may be more willing to give this sport a go.

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Skills Kids Can Learn From Martial Arts

Respect

First and foremost, respect.

Pretty much any martial art that is taught today teaches children about respect. Respecting their instructors, masters who came before them, the other children in their class, and themselves. Most importantly.

Many an instructor of martial arts has emphasised this particular value very consistently and encourage students to carry this value with them when they leave the session, too. One of the most important transferrable skills, respect and self-respect are essential qualities, helping you understand what is acceptable of others and yourself.

Discipline

The big one. Of course, every child learns discipline through martial arts.

This is a sport that was basically built upon discipline and routine and practice. Going far beyond classroom and authority discipline, martial arts can seriously help children with discipline in their own lives. How to self-discipline and follow through with routines and practices.

Focus

Don’t be fooled. No matter how effortless it looks by professionals or even instructors, learning a martial art is tricky. It takes dedication and determination and incredible focus from students in order to overcome mental and physical challenges. Correctly learning a technique can become frustrating when you’re just not quite getting it. But diligent practice and focus prevails and that is what is needed for success.

Of course, it doesn’t harm anyone that attentive focus is a transferrable skill that will benefit kids very greatly when they’re in their school classrooms.

Confidence

There is nothing more satisfying or empowering than putting the work in and achieving your goals. It is in this way that martial arts has the ability to teach children how hard work, determination, and focus can help them achieve what it is they wanted to do. Building confidence allows children to feel better, stronger about themselves and believe in their own abilities. Something that will be transferrable to other areas of their life.

The best thing about martial arts, though, is the success of failure. This sport (and the coaches) teaches kids that you don’t always win and struggling is normal, that is part of the learning experience. So it really helps in preventing children from becoming discouraged, having the confidence to try again or try learning a new skill.