The best time for an individual to develop good habits is during their teen years. It’s a period of their lives when anything is possible, so their lives aren’t set in stone yet. Adolescence allows them to find their work ethic through various ways, one of which can be through martial arts.
Martial arts is a means of self-defense, entertainment, and even personal development.
Though very similar to its portrayal in countless action movies like Enter the Dragon, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and The Matrix, martial arts like taekwondo, karate, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu are a way of life that focuses on physical, mental, and even spiritual growth.
On that note, here are five reasons your kids should pick up a martial art.
It Involves Various Fitness Exercises
Martial arts isn’t just about one-inch punches, flashy flippy kicks, and cool poses. Peak physical conditioning is required. One look at the bodies of Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, and Jet Li shows that intense training is a solid martial arts backbone. Bruce Lee himself underwent a strict daily training routine even when he was a Hollywood movie star!
Jumping jacks and stretching are common warm-up exercises before training. Sessions themselves may include bodyweight and other weight training exercises to strengthen muscles and cardiovascular system apart from the actual martial arts moves.
As a result, martial arts training tones one’s body, improves flexibility, and boosts physical fitness.
It Adds Knowledge of Self-Defense
Before the age of melee and projectile weapons, martial arts were an essential tool for self-defense. Each discipline honed an individual’s body to become a living, walking arsenal, be it taekwondo (leg kicks), boxing (arm punches), or Brazilian jiu-jitsu (combination of both plus grappling).
It is important to note that self-defense is one of martial arts’ core tenets. It is not meant to start fights or wars. More often than not, it teaches you to be prepared for a possible battle while initially avoiding one altogether.
It Teaches Self-Discipline
Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, and Jet Li most certainly did not reach their legendary statuses by reading about martial arts and then simply drinking tea the rest of the day. They underwent rigorous training, which involved constant practice of simple first, intermediate next, and complex techniques last!
Bruce Lee once said, “I fear not the man who has practiced ten thousand kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick ten thousand times.” His point? Discipline improves your skill, and picking up a martial art helps significantly with that.
It Teaches Respect
On a different tangent, remember when Mr. Miyagi was preparing Daniel-san for a local tournament in the original Karate Kid? Daniel-san had to do seemingly unrelated chores like waxing a car and sanding the floor. Aside from getting some actual work done around the dojo, those movements mirrored useful martial arts defenses.
When Daniel-san realized this, he was humbled. What he thought useless was a sobering reminder of the respect needed to learn karate. What mentors usually command rarely make sense in the present, but do so later on.
Karate, judo, taekwondo, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu (to name a few) teach practitioners to respect not just their elders but life as a whole. After all, martial arts are indeed a way of life, not just a fancy way of defending oneself from attackers.
Conclusion: Making That Decision
It is always best to ask your kids first if they are willing to take up a completely new discipline in their lives. As mentioned here, they do provide important life lessons. They could be integral to their development as adults.
However, if they do express interest and need some info on a discipline like Brazilian jiu-jitsu, get in touch with us right away! Fight Gear Market provides Brazilian jiu-jitsu tips that’ll make their experience as simple as possible.
