Summer is upon us and that means kids are out of school. This is a great time to help them develop the necessary skills, such as self-control, goal setting, determination, focus, and confidence, to be successful in the coming school year. Martial Arts is but one way to help your child develop these skills. It is more than just kicking and punching. It is a way of life.
Self-Control
Here at Championship Martial Arts, we focus on teaching life skills daily. When we are practicing with partners, we work on self-control. We have to be aware of how hard we are kicking or punching, and have enough control to not hurt our opponent. Self-control is evident as we line up at attention at the beginning of class, ready for instructions.
Goal Setting
Goal setting is an important skill to learn. Each day, a new goal is set for the class, such as kicking head height, breaking a board with an elbow, memorizing the form, etc. We celebrate success when these goals are met. Students learn that through consistent small goal setting, great things are achieved. Every three months students have the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned at their belt test. They are able to see the progress that is made as they work daily on those little goals in pursuit of a bigger goal.
Determination
Watching a student break a board for the first time is incredibly rewarding. You can see in their face the determination to get through that obstacle. Developing skills as a Martial Artist takes years. Those that are determined to succeed always get back up when they fall. This sort of determination will help a student throughout their life.
Focus
In school, focus is essential to success. Students must be able to pay attention for an extended period of time. Focus is also an integral part of Martial Arts. Every day students are asked to focus on a drill to help them develop new skills. They must be listening to instructions and aware of their surroundings.
Confidence
A confident child is a successful child. Individual performances are a key part of our program here at CMA. Every student learns to look people in the eye when introducing themselves, to speak clearly, and to perform to the best of their abilities. It is amazing to see the changes in our students as they practice performing and gain that confidence.
Consider Martial Arts this summer as a way to keep your child active and develop crucial life skills to help them be successful next school year.