| al Arts or Karate may not be a good fit for my | | | | self defense, and play with good kids in a safe |
| daughter."We are living in the 21st century, and I | | | | environment. Martial arts, for children, are a |
| still hear this one. This kind of thinking is what has | | | | formula for success, and the cost is really, |
| been holding women back for centuries. This | | | | "peanuts."Most well behaved children are allowed |
| statement is not only made by fathers, but by | | | | to take more Karate classes. The children who |
| mothers, too. If your daughter wants to try | | | | "run the staff ragged" will be reminded of the |
| martial arts, let her have a chance. Martial arts | | | | weekly limit. So, the truth is the real cost may be |
| classes for girls, or women, are very | | | | less than peanuts, since there are plenty of |
| rewarding.Over the years, I have coached | | | | martial arts schools, including our center in North |
| successful female martial arts competitors who | | | | Providence, Rhode Island, that charge far less |
| were every bit as good as their male | | | | than $100 per month.Using the formula mentioned |
| counterparts. In the past, our kids' karate | | | | above, the cost of Karate per class for a martial |
| demonstration team had female captains. At one | | | | arts school, charging the national average of $70 |
| point, we had more girls on the demonstration | | | | per month, comes to $5.83 per session. Did I say |
| team than boys.Lately, we have hit the opposite | | | | martial arts training is a bargain? Maybe I should |
| cycle, with more boys than girls, as the kids from | | | | have said martial arts training is a steal.The |
| our kids' Karate demonstration team | | | | alternative to plug kids into the television, and put |
| perform around the Providence, Rhode Island | | | | a joystick in their hands, is a big mistake. |
| area. However, girls learn faster, understand | | | | It's not any cheaper, when you consider the |
| precision, can easily grasp complicated techniques, | | | | cost of games and the ever changing video game |
| and are usually better kickers.Some grappling arts, | | | | formats.On top of that, here's what video |
| such as Jujitsu, are not as popular with girls, but I | | | | games do for kids: Create anxiety, destroy social |
| have coached good female grapplers, as well. | | | | skills, teach them a lot about violence, and waste |
| There is no reason to stop your daughter from | | | | most of their time. All you need to do is throw a |
| learning martial arts, if she shows an interest. All | | | | Big Mac in their lap every night, and within a year, |
| of the life skill benefits such as, goal setting, self | | | | you should have a child who is a nervous wreck, |
| esteem, self discipline, success, and self defense, | | | | with poor communication skills, and an obesity |
| make martial arts training as important for girls as | | | | problem.Over the long-term, the wrong after |
| it is for boys."How can I justify the cost of | | | | school activities result in very expensive health |
| Karate?"When you consider that many Karate | | | | and psychological care. Therefore, look at martial |
| schools charge less than a babysitter, martial arts | | | | arts as preventative medicine, and as a bonus, |
| training for children is a "bargain." Consider this | | | | your child is staying out of trouble.Lastly, if cost is |
| formula based upon a fairly high priced Karate | | | | really an issue and you still can't justify |
| studio. Most martial arts studios, in the United | | | | paying less than you would pay for a babysitter |
| States, average around $70 per month to train a | | | | at $5.83 per session, you can still shop around and |
| child. Granted, some are more and mome are | | | | talk until you find the right karate studio.A martial |
| less, but let's look at your price per hour, if | | | | arts studio, that is "packed to the rafters" with |
| you paid $100 per month.That comes to just $25 | | | | kids, may not be as negotiable as a Karate studio |
| per week, and many Karate studios have a three | | | | that is an upstart, or a martial arts center that |
| class limit per week for children. That comes to | | | | has plenty of room in their kids Karate classes. |
| $8.33 per session for your child to learn life skills, | | | | |