Grade school is a life-altering experience for every child. It is a place where a child not only learns academically, but one where a child must learn to socialize and function in the world. These experiences are a part of us forever. Unfortunately, there are a lot of negative experiences that a child may have when going through school. Participating in martial arts classes will help them develop the perseverance to overcome the negative aspects of the school experience. It will also help give them the confidence to stay true to themselves, which will lead to more positive experiences too!
Helps them earn better grades in school
Getting good grades is reflective of a child’s comprehension of the material. But, it is also indicative of their discipline and responsibility traits. Through martial arts, students learn the fundamentals of stretch and physical routines. They also learn of and utilize the principles of effort, focus, and discipline. Skills that are not only essential to succeeding in martial arts, but also in all of life too. These traits translate to all areas of life, which for children, school is a huge part of. Thus, being able to exhibit these positive traits will translate to better grades as doing well in school requires the proficiency of these characteristics.
Gives them the confidence to stand up to bullies
Bullying is a very prominent and unfortunate experience that many children will either witness or become victims of in their lifetimes. Being a part of martial arts can give children the strength and confidence that they need to stand up to these negative individuals. Not only will they learn about self-defense strategies, they will learn to feel assertive and courageous. Acting with self-confidence is the most important aspect of standing up for oneself to a bully. Through martial arts, they will learn to defend themselves, to be confident, and also that not all conflicts require a physical reaction. They will possess the mature mindset to tackle any conflict with assurance and pride.
Helps them the learn to make friends
Having friends and keeping them can be the big difference between a positive and negative school experience for children. They will latch onto people who share common interests with them and feel devastated when those relationships disappear. However, for children who regularly practice martial arts, they have a different capacity to make and keep friends in their circle. Besides making friends in the martial arts classes themselves, as children gain more confidence through their martial arts training, they will use that confidence to more easily socialize and collaborate with other students at school. For instance, they may be first to initiate a conversation with quiet or new students because they feel it is the right thing to do and they are confident in themselves to do so.
Being a part of something special like martial arts can be greatly impactful for children, especially when it comes to school. Children will gain invaluable skills that will allow them to have more positive experiences in social settings. Although school is meant to teach them about a variety of things, having martial arts as a supplement can significantly improve the way they approach schooling and positively impact their overall experiences.