Thanks to Ben Mahoney from Oceanic Martial Arts Academy for sharing this article.
As the saying goes – “Families that kick together, stick together”. Want to improve the time spent with your children and grandchildren? Engage in a healthy activity together — martial arts. It is a long-term commitment, rather than a seasonal sport or activity, and it brings families together unlike any other.
“The respect kids learn… can often be the most important benefit — it often carries over into school, helping to improve behaviour and even grades”
Martial arts for younger kids
Martial arts is beneficial for people of all ages, including very young children. Classes like Little Dragons Karate and Mini Muay Thai are a fun and valuable introduction to martial arts for young children still developing their strength and motor skills. These classes are also specifically designed to take into consideration the physical, mental, social and developmental needs of each child so that they are getting the most out of each class.
Children are taught the basic stances, strikes and skills that are not only needed to be successful in the older children’s classes, but also to protect themselves from aggressors.
But it’s important for children at this age to understand that martial arts is lots of fun. By incorporating as many games as possible such as soccer, dodgeball, tiggy and obstacle courses, children are assisted to move and react effectively using speed, balance and footwork in different situations.
Martial arts for older kids
The cornerstone of a martial arts program for older kids includes control of aggressive behaviour and the building of self-respect, self-control, self-defence, self-esteem, focus, confidence, and courtesy. As an additional benefit, the child will also excel in other athletic endeavours. Martial arts training gives your son or daughter the chance to strengthen in mind as well as body. It encompasses not just the physical aspect of the sport, but mental, emotional and traditional lessons as well.
Martial arts is a fun way for both boys and girls to achieve fitness and focus. It helps teach self-discipline and socialisation skills. But the respect kids learn, whether it’s from bowing or standing still and waiting for the next command, can often be the most important benefit — it often carries over into school, helping to improve behaviour and even grades.
Many parents whose children have attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) report great success with these programs because self-control and concentration are exactly the skills underdeveloped in ADHD kids.
Martial arts for adults
While adults can be extremely self-conscious about beginning new adventures later in life, the welcoming and positive nature of martial arts training helps ease fears. By acknowledging the strengths that adults already possess, the transition from spectator to student becomes a lot easier.
Some of the strengths that adult students bring to martial arts classes include:
Enhanced ability to focus
Adults have already experienced school, work and — in some cases — family. These are situations that require disciplined dedication to tasks and a concentrated effort towards accomplishing that task. Adults understand the mechanics of martial arts technique and absorb classroom lessons faster than children.
Adults are naturally more goal-oriented than children — this is largely due to life experience teaching adults that if you set and achieve certain goals, you will receive some reward. Adults understand that martial arts training requires dedication and self-discipline. They know that if they learn, practice and perform well that they will succeed.
Motivation to get fit and maintain a healthy lifestyle
Children do a fair amount of running around and get regular exercise to go hand-in-hand with their super metabolism. As many of us have found out, as we get older our metabolism slows. We become more sedentary, usually because the bulk of a day is spent sitting at a desk or driving a vehicle; not allowing for natural daily exercise.
Health issues like high blood pressure and obesity can be improved with martial arts training. Learn martial arts at an older age and engage your memory with the challenges of remembering techniques and forms; improve cardiovascular health; and maintain or re-gain strength and flexibility that naturally decreases with age.
Desire to learn self-defence
Adults have unique self-defence needs. Out and about in the world, adults are subject to all sorts of unusual and/or dangerous scenarios. It is becoming increasingly urgent to be aware of dangerous situations and to learn how to handle them should they occur. Defence against multiple methods of attack (physical and emotional) is a curriculum staple in most martial arts systems.
Get involved
Oceanic Martial Arts Academy is a leader in delivering karate, Muay Thai kickboxing, old boys boxing, personal training and self defence systems throughout Townsville. Find out more by contacting Oceanic Martial Arts Academy on 4723 3001 or 0411 661 269, or visit them at their full time air-conditioned centre at 18 Blackhawk Blvd, Thuringowa — next to Wildcats Indoor Sports Centre — or see http://www.ohaf.com.au/.
