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Recent
studies show that programs that focus on personal achievement such as
the martial arts are vastly more effective developmentally than team
sports.
Did
you know that the martial arts can increase your child’s
concentration and memory capacity?
They
can also increase your child’s physical agility, help them to learn
history and geography, teach them safety, and most importantly give
them the confidence to say NO to drugs, gangs, and any other negative
influence that comes into their lives.
A
good Martial Arts program not only teaches children a particular
style, but also incorporates the importance of discipline, a concept
that is lacking in our society. Children learn that in order to
succeed they must use discipline in their body, mind, and spirit.
And
they are especially taught that the word “can’t” does not exist.
They learn that they are all champions, and they can achieve their
goal if they just concentrate and tell themselves, “yes I can.”
Today
they might use their discipline to stay in a five-minute horse stance,
even though their legs hurt. Tomorrow they might be using that same
discipline to say no to drugs, even though they want dearly to be part
of a “click.”
An
effective martial arts program should also teach children how to
defend themselves from a stranger or a predator. This is extremely
important because even though we live in a peaceful community, studies
show that people that harm children do not wear a black cape or look
like a mnsters, they look like the average “nice” person.
A
stranger is simply someone they do not know and children must be aware
of this and know exactly what to do if they find themselves in that
situation.
Most
importantly, students should learn how to resolve conflicts without
violence, by instilling respect in themselves and others. Children
need to learn how to deal with anger constructively instead of
destructively.
This
is extremely important since violence is infiltrating even our
schools, where homicide is the THIRD leading cause of death amongst
children. Everywhere they look, in movies, music, video games, and in
their own peer pressure, children come to believe that violence is the
only way to release anger or to resolve a conflict.
A
good martial arts school will offer children a place where their
intelligence and wisdom will outweigh the strength of their opponent.
The
best part of a good martial arts program, from the children’s point
of view, is just how much FUN the classes really are. High-energy
classes can harness your child’s energy and focus it in a positive
and productive manner.
I
hope these tips will prove to be helpful in finding an effective
martial arts school for your child and our future leaders, because all
martial arts schools are not created equal.
Elena
J. Anta is an instructor at Anta’s Fitness and Self Defense. Please
call 305 599 3649 with any questions or comments.
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