An after-school program like sports, music, and video games are all beneficial after-school activities in their own way. But martial arts for kids is about so much more than just physical movement. It’s about overcoming challenges and preparing your child to be the best young adult they can be. We gathered up our top 5 reasons why Montclair parents choose martial arts for kids- and some of them may surprise you, like #2! Read on to find out more.
Reason 1: Martial Arts for Kids Helps Kids Focus
Stepping outside of an after-school program for a second, we can say with confidence that a lot of kids struggle with staying focused and concentrating. Some of it’s just part of being a kid, some of it has to do with more screen time leading to less control over attention spans, and some of it is due to plain old genetics if attention issues run in the family.
What’s cool is that martial arts for kids helps students with attention problems and trouble focusing. Why? Well, kids self-defense classes are actually about way more than just punches and kicks. It’s a tool that people have been using for hundreds of years to develop character and learn incredible life skills. Through fun and games in class, our instructors can sneak in quick activities that help build focus consistently over time. Aside from games, the act of martial arts itself requires discipline too.
To master the physical moves, kids need to be still, listen intently, and concentrate on what they’re doing. Once they’re able to get the moves down, our instructors praise them, using positive reinforcement to create a reward connection between paying attention and being celebrated. Soon, the students understand the connection between receiving positive feedback and staying focused, and they focus better all on their own. This ultimately helps them achieve better grades and become more confident, which you’ll read about in Reasons 2 and 3.
Reason 2: Better Grades are Possible with Martial Arts for Kids
Did you know that an after-school program can help your child get better grades? Here’s how it works. Through fun games in class and consistent practice of the martial arts moves, we teach them how to improve their focus and attention skills. With this laser focus, our students start to become more “indistractable.” They have better hand-eye coordination and sharper attention spans, meaning they squirm less in their seats in class and can focus on the tasks at hand. Better focus leads to better listening, so they’re retaining the information better than ever before, and completing their assignments with a higher quality of concentration. And, because the information is “sticking” better, they’re recalling that info on tests and quizzes, they’re scoring higher because of this heightened recall and voila, better grades! Yes, it is that effective. Now you may be starting to see why parents love martial arts classes!
Reason 3: Martial Arts is an After-School Program that Builds Confidence
Every parent wants their child to be confident in themselves. But sometimes, a group after-school program can lead to kids comparing themselves to others. If your child isn’t the most athletic, or they’re somewhat shy, it may be challenging to find an after-school program that suits them where they don’t have to worry about “letting the team down” in any way.
What’s great about martial arts is that it’s an individual sport in a group setting, so our students don’t have to worry about being the best of the best. They just have to focus on being better than they were yesterday. They learn how to compare themselves not necessarily to others, which can be a losing game, but to the previous versions of themselves to keep improving. In this way, our students can tangibly see how awesome it feels to set goals and get goals, and they can understand the discipline and perseverance it takes to become successful. Those are skills they’ll take with them for life.
Additionally, our students learn to be real cheerleaders for their peers and support each other whenever they need it. This is one of the best things about teaching martial arts to kids, seeing the way that our kids become friends and cheer each other on. For those who struggle with low self-esteem, getting that support from both their instructors and their peers is a gratifying and even life-changing experience.
Reason 4: Our Martial Arts Instructors are Positive Role Models
If you think about it, many a after-school program is about the result. The show in Drama Club, the games in sports, but martial arts for kids is different. “Winning” the belt ranking is not our sole focus. Because martial arts is an individual sport in a group setting, our instructors can take the time to hone in on each student and help them with their unique journey. Our instructors then become positive role models to our students, bonding with the kids and nurturing them through positive reinforcement, positive self-talk, and a focus on progress, not perfection.
What’s so awesome about the Karate after-school program is that every black belt was once a beginner, so every instructor can teach from a place of integrity and relate to students when they’re feeling frustrated or upset! We show our students how to get back up when they’ve been knocked down, always stay humble no matter how far they progress, and how valuable personal development and a commitment to growth can be. Those deeper lessons just aren’t as common in other after-school programs.
Reason 5: It’s Just Fun!
It’s a no-brainer that the martial arts after-school program is just plain fun! Our amazing instructors make each lesson fun and engaging. Our classes are centered around non-stop activity. We break each class into different sections to keep our kids engaged and learning and sprinkle fun games into the mix to add an element of surprise.
Games and activities not only help the kids stay engaged with our lessons, but they also help our students make the connection that physical fitness and movement are sources of positive emotion, a connection that they’ll carry with them for life. This big focus on fun is also how our instructors manage to sneak those life skills, like focus, confidence, and discipline, into each lesson. The kids don’t even realize they’re getting benefits of after-school program, they’re too busy having a blast! Try out our kids BJJ classes to see the difference!