Does martial arts really help children?

[kinntj]

I called the local martial arts place to get my DD8 in their Get confidence program. This includes 1 private lesson and 3 classroom sessions and a uniform. I think that's a great start to see if she likes it and then continue by buying more sessions.

One reason I wanted to get her involved in martial arts is for her to gain strenth in her mind and body. She's being harassed in school and she even said she hides during recess just to get some peace from this other girl. I've already contacted her teacher and the school. If the school can't do anything, I'm prepared to call this girls parents.

In the meantime I thought it would help to get her enrolled in this to instill some confidence and a way to take out her aggression in a healthy manner.

Is this the right step and what has it done for your child?

 

[fimac]

Well all kids are different and there can be big differences in martial arts studios. Have you been to talk to the people that run the studio ? Did you like them ? Do they have lots of teenagers instructing in the classes ? If the teenagers are sticking around the place is probably doing a lot of the kids.

Generally I find that Martial arts does help kids confidence, which shows in the way they hold themselves.

Oldest son has been in TKD since he was 6, he is now 15, as of yesterday. He is an instructor to the little kids(4-6). It has done many things of him of which confidence was only a little part. He also has honesty, integrity, courtesy drilled to him which I find sadly lacking in many teenagers. Would he be the person he is without TKD, probably. However hanging about with other kids who have the same values helps.

 

[Kies99]

My youngest DD is now 7yo and has been doing Tang So Doo for about 1.5-2 years (currently an orange belt with stripe testing next week for her green belt). We call her "peanut" because she's short, thin and quiet.

This has DONE WONDERS for her confidence!

Her older sister (9yo) is INCREDIBLY extroverted and very outgoing and just all around LOUD! Our youngest is really asserting herself now and giving back against her sister which has been wonderful.

I highly recommend getting your DD into something like this.

 

[mjkacmom]

Ds7 is working on his 2nd level - he's a Jr. blackbelt. He has a temper, self control issues, and is hyper. However, when he's at TKD, he is 110% the perfect child. Over the years, I see his negative attributes to be lessening. Instead of yelling at his teammate for missing the ball, he now says "nice try." When he isn't acting the way he should, all I have to say is "what would instructor Mike say about this?" It works.

 

[Tinkermommy]

My daughter (age 9) has been taking a combo of Tae Kwon Do and Aikido for over 2 years. She just got her purple belt.

I think the school/instructor is what you really want to look for. Her sensei uses his class to teach a lot of life lessons (respect for your peers, patience, persistence, etc). I am really impressed on how he does this.

My daughter is one of the older/more advanced in her class. Her teacher has her mentor the younger/less advanced students and has her lead the class in their stretches and warm ups. I think this has developed her leaderships skills a lot.

I would urge you to put your daughter in a class. There are numerous benefits with the right instructor.

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

I agree with everyone that said the instructor makes the difference! Martial arts is fantastic, helped my DS and DD. both are black belts. Our school also has adult classes and it helped me too!

I highly recomend it!!!!

 

[PollyannaMom]

DS started karate this year, and I definitely see a difference.

 

[Meriweather]

Martial Arts are wonderful for self confindence.
My DD started when she was 3, went until she was 12 (stopped because of all the other things going on in school then).....she just started back again about 1 1/2 years ago. She is now 28.
She is friendly, outgoing, and self-assured and a lot of it has to do with that early training.
Nothing like me I am so glad we got her into it.

 

[Mama Mouse]

My ds (7) has been doing Taekwondo for a couple of years now. He's a blue belt. I have to agree with those who said it really does help instill confidence, self-discipline, courtesy, honesty...there are just so many great concepts they work on. I feel really, really good about having ds in TKD because I feel like it's giving him some tools I didn't have growing up-many great life skills and even possibilities for his future should he ever want to be an instructor.

 

[kinntj]

I just got off the phone with the owner and he said he'll do a one on one with my daughter tonight. She'll get this one on one, a month free and uniform included. I think that'll be enough time to see if Tae Kwon Do and the instructor are a right fit.

 

[kinntj]

Thank you everyone for your stories. It also has helped me to think of questions to ask tonight.

It's wonderful to hear how Tae Kwon Do has influenced your child to be who they are today (besides having great parents ).

I really want my daughter to understand that you can't control the stupidity of others, but it's important to live your life the way you want and have some control over that.

Again, thanks! I'll let you know after tonight how it goes. Stay tuned.

 

[kinntj]

I agree with everyone that said the instructor makes the difference! Martial arts is fantastic, helped my DS and DD. both are black belts. Our school also has adult classes and it helped me too!

I highly recomend it!!!!

Yep! Our center has family night on Wednesdays, so we will join once we know this is the center we want to stick with.

 

[CathrynRose]

OYE! I flipping HATE bully stories!!! Makes me so ANGRY!!!

My now 19 y/o took Tae Kwon Do, for several years. I think *anything* that the child excels at, and feels confident and good about it, can boost self esteem and confidence. Be it, Karate or painting, KWIM?

If your daughter is interested in it, I say go for it.

And in the mean time, stay on top of the school getting them to break this cycle, with that nasty little girl. I'm NOT one who thinks "kids will be kids". It's NOT okay!! Little brat.


ETA::::

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

I saw an instant change in Alison's confidence and behavior when she started taking TKD. Alison started at 5, and will be testing for her black belt next month. I have noticed that the kids who start a little older - 8 or 9 - seem to really get a big confidence boost because they are physically ready to handle more than the younger kids in the class, and they really end up shining as leaders in the class. For that reason, I think your DD's age is a great time to start.

One of the biggest things that I have noticed long term is that Alison has no fear at all of performing in public - speaking and testing in front of an audience are things she does consistently enough that it is no big deal. This stood out to me last week when we had a Girl Scout thing where each girl had to stand up and say a few words. Most were clearly out of their element like you would expect from an 8 year old. I do have to add though that neither DH or I have a fear of public speaking - and we both kind of like it - so it could just be part of her personality.

 

[BELLE1109]

I do not have kids yet, however, my DH has practiced jiu jitsu for since his early teens. I can tell you that he credits BJJ with his self discipline and athleticism. DH was an all american in 2 sports and he claims he owes his success to BJJ.

Aside from the sports aspect, DH has a lot of friends from BJJ. His instructor has been very influential in his life.

 

[kinntj]

I do not have kids yet, however, my DH has practiced jiu jitsu for since his early teens. I can tell you that he credits BJJ with his self discipline and athleticism. DH was an all american in 2 sports and he claims he owes his success to BJJ.

Aside from the sports aspect, DH has a lot of friends from BJJ. His instructor has been very influential in his life.

Thank you! No, I want to hear about adults who have practiced martial arts too. They were once children too and it shapes them into adulthood.

 

[NotUrsula]

Generally I've heard good things, but I've seen the occasional backfire.

DS had trouble with a kid who was small but a persistant emotional bully; his parents decided to put him into martial arts to try to get him to be more respectful and gain some mental control. I don't know how much of that he gained, but he did gain physical strength and combat technique, which he proceeded to use to beat up the kids that before martial arts he only used to verbally harass.

From our POV it wasn't exactly an improvement.

 

[kinntj]

Generally I've heard good things, but I've seen the occasional backfire.

DS had trouble with a kid who was small but a persistant emotional bully; his parents decided to put him into martial arts to try to get him to be more respectful and gain some mental control. I don't know how much of that he gained, but he did gain physical strength and combat technique, which he proceeded to use to beat up the kids that before martial arts he only used to verbally harass.

From our POV it wasn't exactly an improvement.

Now I can see how that didn't work out so well. My daughter wouldn't hurt anyone, so I don't see that being a problem for her. I do want her to become more aggressive in that she can stand up for herself and learn to be aware of her surroundings.

 

[kinntj]

My daughter really liked the instructor, so we start next week on Tuesday for her first full class. She didn't want the 30 minute trial session to end.

This seems like something she would really enjoy. My husband even thought we may try it out as a family some day.

 

[Ciciwoowoo]

My son was in Shotokan Karate for almost 5 years. Not only did it teach him focus and respect, but it was a great interaction with some male role models. I was divorced and his father moved out of state, and his only male role model was my father. (He's a fantastic grandpa, but isn't into all the younger things)

There were boys and girls in his class, ages 5-12. The younger ones really helped the older ones, and no one was egotistical just because he or she was a blue belt and a white belt may have asked for help. I really can't say enough good things about the program.

I also liked that it was an individual sport. My son was on a soccer team during kindergarten and when I heard a MOTHER yelling at him for missing a goal, I lost it!!! When he would compete in tournaments in karate, the whole team would cheer for each other and everyone would participate equally. There was no sitting on the bench for the weaker team members.