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"Why children should learn martial arts"
I strongly believe that everyone can benefit
from martial arts training. Whether it is for the purpose of enhancing
one's ability to defend oneself, improving health and fitness or
sharpening mental discipline and prowess.
Many people have differing views. A woman I once spoke to told me that
she considered martial arts, alongside western combat sports including
boxing, amateur wrestling and fencing to be violent in nature, and thus
perpetuated violence (although nothing could be further from the truth).
Others have told me that they would be unwilling to take up martial arts
due to fear of injury. In the end, it's down to individuals to decide
whether or not they wish to do anything, but a disturbing fact is that
many parents do not permit their children to practice martial arts.
Parents do have certain rights in deciding what their children may or
may not do, but I believe that all children should be not only allowed,
but encouraged to learn a martial art. I myself am not an expert martial
artist, far from it, But I feel qualified to speak from experience when
I make this statement.
The safety of their children should be every parent's paramount concern.
If a parent sees their child in a dangerous situation then they will do
their best to remove them from it. For example, if a child's father
found that a stranger had approached his child and seemed to have
twisted intentions, then he would put a stop to it, through
confrontation and violence if necessary.
But what if the child were alone? What if a pedophile or murderer were
to attempt to force him or her into the back of a car? In this situation
the only option available to the child would be to defend themselves as
best they could, and without some kind of instruction in a system of
combat the child would stand no chance.
This is a hideous situation to consider, but it is necessary to do so.
Whenever a parent sees a news headline about a kidnapped child, they
must remember that this threat exists in the lives of their own
children.
A less sickening, but still serious situation is that of the schoolyard
bully. A child who cannot defend himself against such an attacker will
learn to fear them and do everything in their power to placate them.
This is not an attitude which should be carried forward into later life.
It is ironic in such situations that parents and teachers often instruct
children not to fight back but to report incidents to the relevant
authorities. In the vast majority of cases this is completely
ineffective. Bullies generally pay little attention to scoldings or
punishments handed out by teachers and will increase the intensity of
their tormenting in order to reinforce the victim's fear.
The simple answer is for the victim to defend themselves. To say "I will
not be intimidated by you." Even the most thuggish of bullies will
quickly learn that they cannot impose themselves physically on their
intended victim and will keep their distance.
Martial arts can also have great effects on a child's health. Weight
problems are increasingly common in children simply because they play
video games or watch television instead of running around outside and
getting some exercise. Martial arts provide a form of exercise which is
more fun than any video game could ever be. This helps to ensure that
the child will stick with the training and continue to benefit from it
for as long as they do.
As well as physical exercise, martial arts also promote clear thinking
and mental strength and discipline. The myth of attention deficiency in
school aged children is often disproved when the child is given
something worthy of their attention. Children are also taught
responsibility by their instructors, who teach them to exercise control
in the practice of their art and to look for non violent solutions to
confrontations before resorting to fighting.
To conclude, while many parents may at first consider martial arts to be
too violent or dangerous an activity for children, this opinion is
incorrect. If you are in any doubt as to whether martial arts can be
beneficial to a child, ask another parent whos child practices a martial
art for their views.
Sincerely,
Mr. Maurice A. Gomez Sr.
American Kenpo Karate 2nd Degree Black Belt
USA- Head Instructor |
