As parents, sometimes we feel under a lot of pressure to raise a well-disciplined child that transforms into a respectable, contributing member of society. It might seem like a mammoth task, but some martial arts, such as Taekwondo, can help you to instill the much-needed core values and disciplines within your child.
While trying to decide what sports to sign your child up for, give martial arts a consideration. It’s great for physical fitness, but also for mental clarity and self-discipline too. I believe that all children should learn a martial art, like Taekwondo, and I will tell you why.
Although only 12 reasons are mentioned below, many have found that their children benefit in far more ways from practicing and living the Taekwondo way. Read through the information below to find out how your child will greatly benefit by joining the Taekwondo community.
12 reasons (benefits) why your kids should do Taekwondo:
1. The principles and techniques of Taekwondo teach discipline.
In a world where instant gratification seems to be the norm, it can be difficult to teach kids the art of discipline. Unfortunately, it is even hard to teach kids discipline in a classroom environment.
Taekwondo is based on discipline and teaches it from the very first lesson.
Kids learn discipline by learning self-restraint and ethical self-defense. Kids also learn that the quickest or violent path is not always the best one when dealing with confrontations – and therein is the sensitive Taekwondo teaching of discipline in all things.
2. Improves focus and concentration.
Children learn a set of prescribed movements that are used to deflect an attack from an opponent. The movements follow a particular pattern and it requires time and concentration to get them right.
Kids also learn self-control in that they have to get the movements right in order to keep up with the rest of the class. Some parents and teachers have noticed that children who do Taekwondo also seem to have better concentration when doing homework or having to focus in the classroom.
3. Boosts self-confidence and decision-making skills.
Some children lack self-confidence. This is often exacerbated when in their own peer group or approached by older peers in group scenarios.
In a Taekwondo class, you will find students of various ages who must train together. The steady training and teaching of children to communicate with people their own age and older certainly boosts self-confidence and enhances decision-making skills.
4. Taekwondo practice strengthens body and mind.
Taekwondo is not just about self-defense, it is also a great way to keep fit and physically healthy. The exercises and practice involve a full-body workout and because a great deal of concentration is required to predict the opponent’s reactions and retaliate; the brain is given a great workout too.
This martial art also requires a lot of strategic thinking, which is also great for mental development.
5. Learning Taekwondo techniques is good for effective self-defense.
The world is a violent place. Children are exposed to violence on television, internet, radio, you name it! – it simply cannot be avoided. Children also suffer at the hands of violence in their schools, on the streets, and even in their own backyards. By learning Taekwondo, your child will be well-equipped to defend himself when attacked or provoked.
One of the good things about this particular martial art is that it does not teach violence and aggression, but focuses on teaching alternative self-defense methods to resolve a confrontation.
6. Taekwondo practice reduces stress and provides a frustration release.
At school, children are bullied, teased, and become frustrated and stressed just like adults do at work. Unfortunately, children feel powerless to stress and frustration because they have no outlet. Sometimes kids get into fights or become bullies themselves as a result.
Taekwondo can change this for your child. By attending classes and burning energy, children can get much-needed stress relief. They can also enjoy practice as an outlet for all of their frustrations, by learning to channel these feelings into their practice.
7. Learning Taekwondo techniques teaches fair play.
Sometimes the idea of sharing attention, toys, or space is difficult for children.
In Taekwondo, children are taught to change their mindset and focus on fair play. This means that kids learn that they cannot simply lash out when they are provoked or annoyed. They are also taught more effective non-violent means of conflict resolution. Learning this teaches self-control and also highlights the importance of fair play for children.
8. Practicing Taekwondo improves flexibility and posture.
Many of the Taekwondo movements require a student to perfect the correct postures and be flexible too. Flexibility is required in Taekwondo for the kicking and punching movements. It can take some time for students to learn to stretch and work the muscles in such a way that flexibility is increased.
The exercises that are taught during classes are focused on strengthening and toning muscles while correcting posture too.
9. Progressing in Taekwondo enhances goal-setting skills.
The modern world is quite focused on instant gratification and sadly, not many children are aware of the importance of setting goals and then strategically working towards attaining them. Martial arts is different in that it requires steady progress. Students can only progress through the ranks by carefully planning and strategically practicing the art. It takes a great deal of dedication from students – this is not a once-a-week type of sport. This teaches children to look ahead and set goals for their training.
The sense of accomplishment that children get as they progress through each stage of Taekwondo teaches them just how rewarding it can be to set goals and diligently work towards them. It can take a student about 3 to 5 years to be eligible to test for a 1st Degree Black Belt, which as you can imagine, takes a lot of goal setting and dedication to practice.
10. Practicing Taekwondo develops balance and coordination.
Some children take longer to learn correct balance and eye-hand coordination than others. Most children learn these skills on the playground and via certain lessons in the classroom.
Taekwondo is a great option for kids to learn great hand-eye coordination on the mat along with excellent balance and agility. Typical lessons of Taekwondo teach students to be agile. In order to kick, block, and punch while having high energy and reacting quickly, balance and coordination are required. The more your child practices these movements, the more coordinated and balanced he will become.
11. Taekwondo practice burns excess energy.
Are your kids high-energy and running amok after school hours? Do you find yourself trying to find ways to entertain and tire out the kids when you have a multitude of other things you need to be focusing on? Does your child seem to be unable to sit still or keep calm?
Whether your child just has a lot of energy to burn off or has ADD, Taekwondo can work wonders. Regular exercise can do wonders for helping your child channel his/her energy into practice, which in turn tires them out. After a few hours of intense practice, you can expect your child to feel satisfied – and exhausted. Another great perk is that kids that get to burn off excess energy don’t feel pent up and frustrated.
12. Getting involved in Taekwondo fulfills the need for children to belong.
If your child is shy or does not seem to be fitting into a specific group, you might think that a team sport will solve the problem. The issue with team sports is that not all children participate in the same way and some kids can feel even more excluded in a team sport.
Taekwondo is a very personal martial art. While a group of children can practice and learn together, they are all learning at their own pace. All the children included are also of the same mindset as Taekwondo is not like other team sports. Taekwondo requires a lot of time and dedication from students, leaving little time for the kids to get themselves into potentially troublesome situations. And best of all, all ages and sizes can participate.
All in all
There really is every reason to think about getting your child involved in Taekwondo.
Introducing your child to the martial art is probably a good first step. See if he/she has any particular interest in it. Attend a local Taekwondo class together or watch a few YouTube videos to see what is involved in training and how each student progresses. Once your child has started Taekwondo, he/she will never look back – and the benefits will be enjoyed for many years to come.