Tag: Karate for Kids

Setting and Achieving Goals

Posted on | by Jason

We all have dreams in life, and most realize that in order to achieve those dreams, we must set goals, a road map, and a time frame to get them. This reality isn’t just true for grown-ups; it’s true for children as well. The dictionary defines a goal as an “observable and measurable end result with one or more objectives to be achieved within a fixed time frame.” It is a known fact that children with specific goals to achieve fare much better in life than their direction-less counterparts. Setting goals for children allows them to think, plan, and take action in order to earn a positive change or reward. They will understand the importance of patience, hard work, and experience the pure satisfaction of seeing the fruits of their labor. Since children are basically beginners in this area, the focus should lie on the process rather than the result.

Values of goal-setting

Setting goals for your children helps them focus on the task at hand. Since children can be easily distracted, it is necessary to set small goals for them that are achievable. The intention here is to keep them focused. Motivation is also important in goal setting and children will lose interest in their goals if it not relevant to them. Motivation in the form of small rewards can be great when it comes to getting your child to achieve his or her goals, but the focus must be on completing the task and not just the reward. Fixing goals for your children in multiple areas allows them to explore their strengths and interests, and simultaneously trains them to be well rounded individuals.

Setting goals for your children allows them to develop self-confidence. Every time your children achieve a set goal, it gives them the reassuring knowledge and trust that they are capable of doing things. It gives them a sense of control and boosts their self-esteem.

Goal-setting with karate

Allowing your children to participate in goal-oriented activities is an excellent way to teach them the importance and value of the so-called “master skill of success.” Like most martial arts, karate is built on the idea of self-improvement through practice. It is an activity that is centered on the idea of goal-setting, and requires high levels of discipline to learn. There are various stages through which to progress when learning karate (proficiency in certain moves or skill sets, symbolized by advancing rank and belt color). The requirements will teach your child to be patient and focused, a noble and possible goal for young people and adults as well.

“No BS” Training – It’s REAL

Posted on | by Jason

Children can be a frustrating lot, especially if they lack courtesy and discipline. Perhaps it’s an over-generalization, but sometimes it seems that we’ve neglectfully raised a generation of annoying, self-centered brats! (Did our elders say the same of our generation?) To make things worse, we’ve crafted a bunch of excuses to justify both their and our unacceptable behaviors. As parents and teachers, the duty is ours to train children with better attitudes and strong moral values.

Basic tips to train your kids

  • Impulsive behavior is one the biggest problems that parents experience dealing with kids. The bad news is that impulses are a part of our biological make-up. We may be higher animals, but we’re animals nonetheless and so are our children. If they’re not taught to control their impulses, they will look for frustrating and annoying ways to get what they want. That’s how kids are. One of the best ways to deal with this issue is by not responding to any demands made rudely. Once your kids realize that they’re not going to get what they want by throwing tantrums, they’ll learn to wait and delay gratification.
  • Keep your children distracted with a lot of physical activity. Children are practically bundles of energy and if this energy isn’t channeled in the right direction, you could have a major problem on your hands. Introduce them to sports or other activities that they might like and encourage them to participate in those activities. Once they learn to keep busy with wholesome, exhausting extracurricular activities, they don’t have much energy left for misbehaving.
  • Kids can also suffer from anger. This usually stems from the fact that they are not yet aware of how to control their emotions. Much of their behavioral “inspiration” comes from external sources like cartoons and sit-coms. Teach your kids to control their anger and to channel it in more practical ways. For instance, if your child is angry about something, ask him or her to make a list of what makes them angry and as to why. This will help them to understand where their emotions and reactions are coming from.

Train your kids with karate

Quite contrary to its portrayal in the media, karate is an art form that has its foundations in the philosophy of non-violence. Karate might have originated as a fighting style, it evolved into a lifestyle and philosophy fostering important values such as self-discipline, patience, focus, conflict resolution, respect, and more. Allowing your children to learn karate is probably one of the best ways to help instill your shared values and work ethic.

Never Give Up!

Posted on | by Jason

In a day and age where intense competition rules the world, teaching our children the value of not quitting has become a requirement for their ultimate success as self-reliant, capable, caring, and responsible citizens. As the experts always say, it’s best to start early. Young children have the most curious and inquisitive minds which allow them to learn faster. So the sooner you teach your children not to be quitters, the better they’ll remember it and apply it in their lives.

The value of effort

One of the biggest errors made by parents is that they focus on a child’s natural ability to do things rather than the effort he or she puts in. This sends out a wrong message to our children that it is their inherent ability that matters, not what they do. Teaching your children the benefits of putting in effort allows them to learn the values of hard work. No matter how little or great the effort, praising and positively reinforcing your children for their work teaches them to face problems head on.

Failures are a part of our lives and they teach us where we went wrong and what not to do. One of the key steps in teaching your children not to give up is to also teach them how to accept failures, defeat, and loss. If you child has not performed well in school or has misbehaved, ask them to analyze what they’ve done and where they went wrong. Giving into your child’s tantrums and allowing them to quit only sends them the message that they are incapable of succeeding.

Karate is not for quitters!

One of the best ways to teach your child the values of not quitting is to teach them the art of karate. Karate is an ancient form of martial arts that originated in Japan centuries ago, along with related disciplines – some similar, some unique – from the Far East and Middle East as well. Contrary to popular belief, karate is not just a form of self-defense. It definitely does not condone or elicit violent behavior. It is a brilliant art form that teaches its learners discipline and focus. When you enroll your children for karate classes, you give them the opportunity to learn the true value of hard work, dedication, and perseverance.

Karate takes years to master and requires absolute focus and discipline. Apart from all of this, karate also provides a platform for your children to interact and compete with other children, teaching them the importance of sportsmanship and healthy competition. More important than fun or sport, your children will learn the priceless message of what not giving up means.

Always Try Your Best

Posted on | by Jason

Always Try Your Best

“Do your best and hope for the rest.” A common quote that most of us have heard at some point in our lives, but how much sense does it really make in a world where people have managed to foolishly convince themselves that they can all achieve the same levels of success? The answer is “not much.” Sadly, this is the world our children are also growing up in. The pressure on them to fit in and be as good as or better than the other person, to earn more, have more, go more, and so on is an unfortunate mainstay in our consumerism driven society.

Each child is unique

The cold, hard truth is that all of us do not have the same talents or qualities. In the whole mixed and segmented mass of humanity throughout our existence, it is amazing to know that each of us is unique and special in our own way. Each beloved child is unique as well, and has his or her own potential and capabilities. Some are smart, some are artistic, and some are athletic.

The key to your finding and unlocking their area of excellence is two-fold: first, to allow them to try different things throughout their formative years, from little ones to maturing teens. Until they try, they will never really know what they’re good at! Secondly, we must acknowledge and fulfill our role as the provider of those opportunities (to experiment in diverse hobbies and activities) as well as the subtle guide, teacher, supporter, and straight- shooter for them along the way.

If we attempt to force our children into be successful at everything they do, the inevitable result is stress, resentment, and a dislike for everything they’re forced to try. We must help them find opportunities, resources, and time to dabble and sample, to mess up and start over, to find their true passions through trial and error. Once an area of interest and potential has been discovered in them, it is our responsibility as parents and teachers to give them as many chances as possible to learn, grow, and perform at their peak ability levels.

Test their capabilities through karate

Enrolling your child for karate classes is a fantastic way to expand your child’s capabilities, interests, character traits, and positive outlook. Karate isn’t just a proven way to defend yourself from bullies and bad guys, though it certainly is that! Karate works on the principles of self-discipline, focus, concentration, patience, and achieving goals. The focus here is not for your child to master the art of karate, but to probe his or her true potential and gain new self-confidence and respect through perseverance and good attitude. Training year-round in a martial art is shown to better their performance in other sports and academics as well!

One of the five core ethics of karate philosophy is “to strive for the perfection of character.” The word ‘strive’ implies that we can only “try” being perfect at something but never really achieve it. However, the greater control of our bodies and minds that we develop, the closer we come to reaching that ultimate goal. It is only when we try our best that we come to know our limits – and set new ones!