Facts About Martial Arts for Kids (Part 3)

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