Benefits of Karate for Children
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WHY SHOULD CHILDREN DO KARATE?
Sport is unquestionably good for children for a great many reasons. We believe that Karate is even better than most! A lot of children are referred to us by Occupational Therapists as the benefits for children with behavioural problems, attention and learning difficulties etc have been proven time and time again. |
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For example, children who have difficulty or are unable to cross the mid-line; who have difficulty or are unable to mimic physical movements (especially mirror-image); children with spatial orientation problems etc. Karate also teaches a multitude of life lessons - one of the main ones being "What you put in, is what you get out". The harder and more you train, the quicker and further you will progress through the belt system. But that is by no means the only lesson. In addition to being a great way of combating bullying, karate also teaches:
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- That not everything is fun all the time. As in life, worthwhile things require hard work as well!
- Perseverance, commitment and dedication
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KARATE IMPROVES:
• Self Discipline • Self Esteem • Self Awareness • Stranger Awareness and personal safety • Attention/concentration difficulties • Gender equality • Non-violent Conflict Resolution • Listening skills • Compliance with verbal instructions • Good decision making • Concentration • Behaviour • Responsibility • Humility - there is always a bigger dog! • Overly aggressive behaviour • Overly passive behaviour (lack of self confidence) • Stillness |
• Social skills • Mental focus • Respect • Poor/low muscle tone • Weight control • Agility • Flexibility • Endurance and Stamina • Fitness and Body Conditioning • Healthy living • Speed • Memory sequence skills • Pliometrics • Gross Motor Skills • Balance • Co-ordination • Eye-hand co-ordination |
THEY ALSO LEARN:
WHO CAN DO KARATE?
Everyone! A lot of children do not have the mental or physical aptitude for team sports - sometimes they are bad at it and this leaves them on the sidelines feeling dejected. Some simply do not like them, preferring individual sports. The "make the-team" model often favours the more physically developed players, while alienating some late bloomers. Karate focuses on individual achievement and doesn't leave anyone "on the bench" . Karate is primarily an individual sport (although there are team event competitions where each member of a team competes as a individual and the results of all members are calculated together as a team). This allows all children, even those with poor physical abilities, to participate in a sport. There is no "minimum standard" - so ANYONE and EVERYONE can do karate! They don't have to be able to do certain things, or have specific physical abilities to do karate. Everyone sets their own performance bar - they don't have to be better than the child next to them; they only need to be better than they were themselves last week. Everyone can earn a black belt - it just takes hard work, commitment and dedication. That is more important than natural ability.
- What it is to take a hit - whether a literal blow or a disappointment, like failing a grading or an exam
- To win - with grace
- To lose - with dignity
- Whether you win or lose is not as important as you participating
- The only person you have to be better than, is yourself last week
- Goal-setting - whether it be for grading or competitions
- How to follow the correct path to accomplish those goals
- Brute force is not the answer to everything
WHO CAN DO KARATE?
Everyone! A lot of children do not have the mental or physical aptitude for team sports - sometimes they are bad at it and this leaves them on the sidelines feeling dejected. Some simply do not like them, preferring individual sports. The "make the-team" model often favours the more physically developed players, while alienating some late bloomers. Karate focuses on individual achievement and doesn't leave anyone "on the bench" . Karate is primarily an individual sport (although there are team event competitions where each member of a team competes as a individual and the results of all members are calculated together as a team). This allows all children, even those with poor physical abilities, to participate in a sport. There is no "minimum standard" - so ANYONE and EVERYONE can do karate! They don't have to be able to do certain things, or have specific physical abilities to do karate. Everyone sets their own performance bar - they don't have to be better than the child next to them; they only need to be better than they were themselves last week. Everyone can earn a black belt - it just takes hard work, commitment and dedication. That is more important than natural ability.