Admit it. When the going gets tough at home, we’ve all plopped the kids in front of the television and breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, we can get started on dinner, maybe check email or sort that massive pile of laundry.
But when your five-year old yells at you “Mom, Kids Rule!” or your ten-year old horrifies you with language that would make a sailor blush, you realize there must be something amiss with what these family programs really teach our kids. And sadly, it’s happening all over the media today, from sports to cartoons, and our children are learning things that we, as parents, vowed we would never teach them. Old fashioned values like respect and self-discipline, seems to have been forgotten, replaced by the dreaded “bling bling” pop culture of today.
Just the thought of your angelic three-year old morphing into a designer-clad, smart-mouthed, money-worshipping, me-obsessed, lay-about is enough to make any parent consider that threatening military school brochure, but there is a solution out there to consider, Martial Arts training!
From Ninja Turtles to The Karate Kid
You and your kids have all seen the flying kicks, battle cries and mighty chops of their favorite TV characters, as they beat the bad guys to submission but, you may ask, how on earth can these acts of violence teach my child anything worthwhile?
First, know that what you see on television (save perhaps the Karate Kid) is a far cry from what real martial arts are all about. The fact is, martial arts training is based on non-violence.
Originating in Asia (mainly Japan, China and Korea, although Thailand and Vietnam have their own practices as well), martial arts range from a variety of types and styles, all of which are based on well-rounded, moral teachings. The beauty of learning martial arts is that it encompasses not just the physical aspect of the “sport,” but mental and emotional lessons as well.
Comparing that to other kid’s activities and sports, where fierce competitiveness and “winning at all costs” seems to be the order of the day, it’s not surprising that many children grapple with issues of self-esteem and misplaced aggression.
The Advantages
Martial arts for kids, builds confidence and self-esteem as well as self-discipline, respect, concentration and courtesy.
Many martial arts schools also offer leadership courses for kids, in conjunction with their karate for kids programs, or similar lessons.
Martial Arts is ideal for children who do not do well in team sports, giving them the ability to excel in this activity, while combining physical and mental practices.
Many do not realize this, but it is a fact that martial arts training is safer than most school sports.
Children with special needs, such as ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), learning difficulties and hyperactivity are often recommended to participate in a martial arts program because of the clear benefits in its structured training techniques.
Now imagine your child actually learning valuable life lessons, skills that they will take throughout life, laying the foundation for a happy, well-adjusted and fulfilled adult life. If only karate for kids was popular when we were growing up!
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Help answer the question about Martial Arts
Does anyone have any martial arts classes that they can recommend in Maryland?I live in the Baltimore area, but I am willing to travel up to an hour from Baltimore for a quality martial arts class. Please include links to websites and/or contact information/phone number with your answers. There are many choices in the area, and frankly it is quite overwhelming. Recommendations of schools to check out and/or schools that should be avoided are appreciated.
Thanks.
About Author
Steve Doss has taught self-discipline and focus to thousands of children through the martial arts. Find out how your child can grow up with both confidence and a respectful attitude at http://www.pmaaustin.com.
that is beyond. holy that is amazing. is it a picture or a painting. when you can blur those lines, you know you have something.great stuff thanx
amazing work, i would think it’s a photo!
AMAZINGGG
THERE ARE ALWAYS HAVE A FAMILLY CLASSE AT ANY MARTIAL ART SCHOOL. WE ARE FAMILLY OF 4 AND WE ARE ALWAYS PRACTICE AT THE SAME TIME SAME CLASS AND GOT OUR BLACK BELT AT THE SAME TIME.
We give patches for academic achievement, they have to bring in their report card and have all A's or B's, or they have to show an overall improvement from the last grading period, for example, a C to a B, etc. They can get up to 4 per year.
We also have these plain, very small star patches, they have a board on the wall with their name. Each class they get a sticker to stick on the wall next to their name, when they get 30 stickers, they get the star patch.
We also have "Best Form", and "Outstanding Attendance". The best form is given at random and the attendance is earned quarterly if the student came 3 times a week for 3 months.
Some parents don't ever sew the patches on, or sew them all on once a year. Others do a great job with them.
James
Amazing painting, and love your song also.
You need to let your mom know that most of the stuff in movies and on T.V. are people who are either a) actors, or b) sanctioned pro-fighters.
First and foremost, tell your mom that MA will teach you discipline, self-control, and how to control your temper. MA put a high emphasis on those things, because they bring much much better people to society. (Rather someone who just knows how to fight).
It will turn you into a much better person.
Use Yahoo Yellow pages, search from your zip code.
The key thing is to find a place that is close by, and find an instructor you like. It really doesnt matter if it's Tae Kwon Do, Karate or Kung Fu.
What matters is that you like the teacher and that it is close enough for you to 2-4 times per week.
Click here: http://yp.yahoo.com/py/ypResults.py?&city=Charlotte&state=NC&uzip=28202&msa=1520&slt=35.22723&sln=-80.842972&cs=4&stx=8120454&stp=y&desc=Martial+Arts&offset=0&FBoffset=2&sp=1&sorttype=name
James
The bible says thiers a time to Destroy, kill, and defend… The best part about that is that thiers only one way to do it! So you can tell those Christian Leaders that a real man of god needs to not only know how to defend the word of God with words but with theier bodies as well!
Great actor great painting great music ,,lovely for real
AMAZING!! love it!
its like u took a picture@@
I was in your shoes once. I started Kenpo Karate when I was 13. I was out of shape. I started reading Black Belt and Inside Kung Fu magazine and started reading/learning about all these other styles. Then I started learning about Bruce Lee's concepts about training in multiple styles and the concept of "Jeet Kune Do".
So after my 1st year of Kenpo, I left that school to train in Goju-Ryu Karate, after a year there, I left and took Shaolin Northern Longfist Kung-Fu, after 1.5 years there, I left and took Tae Kwon Do and Shotokan Karate……..
Now, 22 years later, I wish I would have stayed in my original style and gotten a better foundation in that style before I learned other styles.
I agree with some of the other answers here, focus on your TKD for now. Stick with it at least 3 years before you think about cross training in another martial art.
As for the effectiveness of TKD, I believe that it is just as effective as karate, or kung fu or any other traditional martial art would be. Even if you are taking the Olympic version, as long as you are learning more than sport, you will be prepared.
But remember, fights are not won and lost by the color of the belt you earned, or by the style that you take, fights are won and lost by people and the individual circumstances of that fight.
Good luck to you!
James
wow, amazing. Deep is my favorite actor too.
(Brasil)
Look into the combatives of the second war.. They were primarily based on gross muscle motor movement and are easy to learn if you have the right attitude to train with.. These applications were good enough for the OSS and the 1st special services squadron for use during the second war as taught by Col. Rex Applegate and William Fairbairn.. These programs expanded from there and are usually the foundation for the reality based self defense programs that exist now
Nick I've read your question and description. What you are looking for really boils down to the instructor. Style is not that important if you can find the right instructor. I'm thinking that you might have more success avoiding Korean styles as they have the highest percentage of belt mills. If you have Okinawan styles in your area, you might start there. I'd suggest finding a old school instructor with at least 20-30 years of training. I realize that finding one is possibly not going to be easy. Many of these guys are not interested in teaching at a big commercial dojo. The most knowledgeable and impressive ones I've met almost always teach out of a park and rec or out of their home. What you want is to find an instructor that is interested in teaching realistic skills instead of handing out belts. Any place that sells contracts of any kind should be avoided. That in itself will eliminate most schools these days. Also any dojo that has children black belts or many black belts is a bad sign.
Best of Luck!
fantastic!
you, sir, are freakishly talented. congratulations.
No matter how much exercise you do, it will be worthless if you don't watch what you eat. Not a strict diet, per say, but fast food every day is out of the question.
You are off to a good start by doing the sit ups, push ups and martial arts. Increase your intensity, since it's been a while since you did it.
Also, spot training doesn't work. If the abs are the first place you gained, they will be the last place you lose.