Kids have the flexibility to learn faster than adults, so it is advisable to enroll them in classes and activities that stimulate their brains and make them more active while they are still young. After all, kids are like sponges, and a sponge not well-used will eventually dry out.
Karate is a martial art that involves striking in the form of kicking, punching, and knee and elbow strikes as a form of self-defense. The benefits of being a karateka, which is a karate student, outweigh the harm.
Karate, as you know it, is not only for adults because kids can learn many skills from practicing karate to improve their overall well-being. Besides, it is always easier for kids to learn something because their bones and muscles are more flexible than adults. Here are nine reasons why karate is beneficial to kids:
#1 – Karate betters physical shape
One importance of karate is how it betters physical shape, especially for kids whose bones are still growing. Although not one of the factors that aid or stunt growth, constant involvement in practicing karate improves the body’s shape.
In fact, I wrote an article on whether karate affects growth. Do check it out if you want to know the answer.
Remember, karate is a sport. It involves moving parts of the body (athleticism) and learning to move in sync with one another (teamwork breeds competitiveness). Combining this stimulating form of sport with healthy dieting will cause the body to become more muscular and more athletic.
It might not impact whether the kid becomes fatter or thinner, but it will increase muscle mass and cause the kids to be sturdier. And because kids above the age of five like to look good, feel good, and receive compliments from their peers, this will increase their confidence in themselves and cause them to work with their heads held high.
#2 – Karate improves mental health.
One of the tips for improving mental health, as given by psychologists through studies and research, is exercise. When you move your body and sweat a bit, serotonin and dopamine—feel-good hormones—are released into your bloodstream.
Remember that Karate is a sport and also an exercise.
Kids whose personal life is in shambles can turn to karate and get a reprieve from their life. Because not only do they get feel-good hormones released into them, the concentration karate requires takes their mind off whatever they’re going through. It is a great defense mechanism for them.
Karate is an indoor sport that often takes place in a large hall with lots of people, and one thing psychology has reminded us over and again is that going out of your house—or room—is good for depression. And since depression can be hereditary, this gives the kids an avenue to fight it.
…the findings of the study will provide valuable evidence regarding the efficacy of martial arts training to improve mental health outcomes.
Source
Progressing faster—is difficult. If you’re one of these individuals who want to boost your progression rate, hold up. I wrote an article about tips to progress faster in karate, and I highly recommend following the link to read it!
#3 – Karate improves social life.
An average eighth grader wants to be popular in middle school. They don’t want to be the school losers or the nerds who get bullied. They want to be confident in themselves and their ability to defend themselves. Furthermore, they also want to be respected and associated with popular boys and girls. That’s to show you how important social life is.
For a kid becoming a part of the kid’s karate club, learning and practicing karate is a one-way ticket to becoming the cool kid or being a part of the cool kids’ gang. Like those in the football club, those in the karate club are highly respected. Why? It’s a clique on its own, and kids love having these cliques.
Being in the karate club improves social life. Karate skills are aesthetically pleasing to watch when executed, and most people want to be associated with you, especially when you’ve won a lot of belts and are good.
Besides, karate clubs give each kid an opportunity to relate with their fellow karatekas and build bonds that’ll probably last for a long time. They can also hang out with some of their fellow karatekas or form a cool clique.
#4 – Karate teaches self-defense skills.
Martial art is strictly for fighting and learning self-defense. And because karate is a martial art that involves kicking, punching, striking, and attacking defenders, it teaches self-defense. Karate is a beneficial skill for any child in a world filled with predators and people waiting to grab kids at every opportunity.
Kids learn how to defend themselves in cases that need it, and in turn, the parents know not to worry so much. Because even if these kids can’t single-handedly take care of themselves, they aren’t entirely helpless. With the rate of rape making rounds, a kid in a karate club can fight and escape their captor.
Besides, this knowledge and skill follow them into adulthood. So they not only know how to defend themselves as kids, but as adults, too. They could also join careers where these skills will be transferable and valuable, or they could teach others how to defend themselves.
Overall, karate is a great sport to learn if you want to improve your self-defense skills or live a life of no fear.
Before moving on, I highly recommend buying a high-quality karate Gi. If you do, your training will be much more enjoyable, and you’ll eventually progress faster. So, I wrote an article on the best Gi for your money. Follow the link to read it!
#5 – Karate improves discipline and tolerance.
Karate can also be seen as a conflict with oneself because to win; you must subject yourself to long years of practice with self-discipline, tolerance, and hard training as your best bet. This statement only proves something we’re well aware of: karate is hard work, and the advantage is that it builds discipline and tolerance.
Kids who practice karate would be more disciplined and have a higher threshold for pain than their counterparts, and this is one benefit that trumps every other. Because the ability to undergo intense levels of pain and only feel a small amount of it is something we all crave.
This discipline and tolerance set them up for life, making them successful because they learned early in life the importance of delayed gratification. This way, they’re better able to excel in school and life, unable to be crushed by society’s ills.
#6 – Karate improves healthy competitiveness.
Competition is one of the characteristics of a living being, but some people take it far. They get obsessed with the idea of success and being better than others, and they allow it to take over their sense of humanity, and this causes them to do all it takes to be successful.
Karate healthily teaches this competitiveness. It makes the kids see that being competitive is normal and healthy. It shows you’re a functioning human being, but being competitive at the expense of others is not very humane.
That’s why, in every fight they undergo with fellow karatekas; they are advised not to harm in such a way that the other person becomes useless. Of course, it’s a fight, and the kids learn to defend themselves from attackers.
The children would want to get belts and increase in levels, so the karate tutors teach the children to do this healthily, following karate rules and not at the expense of their fellow students; this fosters a tremendously intelligent approach towards one another.
#7 – Karate reduces stress
One of the more prominent benefits everyone can enjoy, including adults—is reduced stress. Today, most people don’t bother trying lowering their stress levels. In fact, it became as normal as being calm. Well, everyone can do something about, including kids.
Karate reduces stress by being an outlet its trainees can release built tension and aggression levels. For instance, some drills include striking a punching bag. Now, if you have ever done that, you know how much aggression and built tension you release during this exercise.
Of course, it includes various other drills that’s purpose is to both teach you to fight and reduce your stress. So, after a fierce karate session, you’ll feel much calmer and with fewer worries on your mind.
Kids can enjoy being calmer as much as adults can. As a result, I’m not referring to one group individually; but, I’m suggesting both can enjoy this particular benefit.
Nonetheless, I’m just a regular guy writing. So, here’s a study proving my point:
The regular practice of martial arts could elevate mindfulness levels of practitioners and thus influence positively on stress management and therefore quality of life and well-being.
Source
Allow yourself to be less stressed throughout the day. Both kids and adults can enjoy being less stressed. However, many individuals are so used to feeling stressed that once they don’t have that, they feel odd. So, they’ll look for it wherever they go. That’s an addiction to being busy.
#8 – Karate reduces aggression and violence levels
The next benefit we’ll discuss closely correlates to the previous one; being less stressed. In fact, one will attract the other. Essentially, if you’re less stressed, you’ll also be less eager to be violent and aggressive toward your peers.
Karate lowers aggression and violence levels by being a platform kids can use to release built tension and stress. As a result, post-workout, they’ll feel much calmer and less eager to be violent. For example, a common drill that does that is striking a punching bag, which releases plenty of aggression.
If you want to experience this benefit for yourself, I highly recommend trying to strike and kick a punching bag for 2-3 minutes. First, if you succeed in doing so, you also bettered your physical shape; but, we had already discussed that.
That said, regardless of the physical benefits, you’ll feel more fulfilled internally. You’ll sweat and breathe heavily, a sign you have just worked hard.
Notice how low levels of aggression and violence you feel once you’re done with your punching session. You’ll experience high levels of calmness, and the world will seem to be filled with fewer worries than you naturally think there are.
From that, you can see that martial arts trainees show lower hostility and aggression levels. As a result, we can interpret that training in martial arts, specifically karate, decreases anger and aggression levels.
#9 – Karate increases confidence and self-esteem
The last benefit we’ll discuss—is improved confidence and self-esteem. This heavily correlates with the second martial arts benefit for kids, better mental health. However, I decided to list it separately, since it’s such an influential one.
Karate improves confidence and self-esteem by being a platform trainees can use to overcome obstacles and push their limits, physically and mentally. As a result, the more obstacles the trainees will overcome, the more confident they’ll feel.
Kids will feel that—especially because they don’t think as bad of themselves as adults. Thus, it’ll be easier to build a solid foundation – setting them up for the rest of their lives.
Solid mental health is a crucial aspect in adulthood. However, the rate of mental health issues has been on the increase ever since technology took over. Therefore, it’s even more important we allow our children to experience confidence and self-esteem for themselves.
Self-esteem was significantly lower for beginning belt level students than for upper belt level ones and was related to Ss’ self-perceptions regarding their abilities in forms, fighting, and physical conditioning.
Source
I ask you, allow your kids to experience the world in its fullest form. Although this opinion may be rather abnormal, it’ll be best if you don’t allow your children to experience technology before they experience the real world. They can build themselves from the ground up by overcoming obstacles and proving their worth – to themselves.
Conclusion
Karate is an essential and beneficial sport. Here, kids learn skills that will make them live healthier lives, improving their confidence and esteem. With these benefits of karate in mind, don’t hesitate to enroll your kid(s) in a karate club; consider the benefits!
If you enjoyed reading this article, I highly encourage you to read a post I wrote about Karate’s belt order. If you desire to study in it, knowing such information—is a must.