| Many parents in the Maryland, Virginia and | | | | taught discipline and reasoning over all and if they |
| Washington D.C. area have misconceptions of | | | | are ever faced with the situation of abuse, they |
| karate and kids. They think that it is not safe, | | | | use that disciplined reasoning to determine |
| teaches abuse, is expensive and is for only adults | | | | whether defensive actions are required. |
| and older kids. We will address these | | | | Cost - "Is the lessons they learn worth the |
| misconceptions and answer some of the | | | | cost?" This depends on your values of such |
| questions that parents have about karate and | | | | lessons as; respect, cooperation, leadership, |
| kids. | | | | coordination and other life lessons they will learn. |
| Safety - "Is karate safe for my child to | | | | Many parents put too much emphasis on winning |
| participate in?" The notion that karate is not safe | | | | and talent. Karate puts emphasis on life lessons |
| for kids comes from parents who are afraid that | | | | such as teamwork, leadership, respect for others |
| little Johnny will break a fingernail. There is no nice | | | | and cooperation. These are lessons they will take |
| way to put it so I'll just say it. Only a child that | | | | through life with them and use on a daily basis. |
| has been sheltered and not allowed to be a kid | | | | Along with these lessons, what they learn helps to |
| gets hurt in karate. It is one of the safest sports | | | | reinforce the values and discipline you teach at |
| that your kids can participate in. Statistics show | | | | home. |
| that fewer kids are injured each year from | | | | Adults only - "Isn't karate for older kids and |
| karate and martial arts than from any other sport | | | | adults only?" No! Many parents are finding that |
| including gymnastics. I will not try to tell you that | | | | their pre-school children benefit as much as older |
| they never get hurt in karate but an occasional | | | | kids from the lessons they are taught. Even |
| sprain, bruise or cut may occur. These are minor | | | | children with learning disabilities such as autism |
| compared to the spinal cord and brain injuries that | | | | benefit from karate and martial arts programs, |
| other sports can cause. I would rather see my | | | | improving their social abilities and aiding them in |
| kids with a band-aid on from a small cut than | | | | being better able to focus. Children as young as 4 |
| sitting in a wheel chair the rest of their life. | | | | benefits from karate. |
| Abuse - "Does karate teach kids to be | | | | I hope this has calmed any misconceptions you |
| abusive?" Absolutely not! There are 2 aspects of | | | | may have about karate and kids. Let your child sit |
| abuse; | | | | in on a class and see if they appear interested. |
| 1) offense in which the abuser inflicts on another, | | | | You have nothing to lose by letting your child |
| and | | | | participate in such a structured environment. |
| 2) defense which is the act of physically | | | | Additionally, if you live in the Maryland, Virginia, |
| protecting oneself. Karate is defensive which | | | | Washington DC area, you can check out Lloyd |
| means that your kids are taught to use their | | | | Irvin's, Mixed Martial Arts Academies. They offer |
| minds before using self defense. They are never | | | | a 30 day free trial program on any of the mixed |
| taught to be abusive or offensive. They are | | | | martial arts programs. |