Learn the secrets of Kung Fu


Facts About Martial Arts for Kids (Part 5)

"Will my child become more violent fromworse violence.
learning karate, jujitsu, or anotherAll you have to do is watch the news,
martial art?"cartoons, listen to the radio, or read a
In a word, "No." Children learnnewspaper, to see things worse than
self-control by practicing martial arts;unsupervised hand-to-hand combat. So,
and the code of conduct that isthe self-defense methods taught to
enforced, within the studio, is carriedchildren actually pale in comparison to
outside into every day life. Theschool shootings, bombings, wars, and
average martial arts school works withdrive-by shootings.
parents, and academic teachers, towardKarate was created by unarmed civilians
the goal of optimum student success.on the island of Okinawa and was taught
When you see a Karate demonstration teamin secret among family members for their
perform, that is not an indicator of thepersonal protection. The philosophy,
life skills taught within the Karatewithin a martial arts school, will not
class. It is the "flashiest" componentalways be the same, but the seeds of
of Karate training, presented to captureviolence are not sown within a martial
the public attention. Ten minutes ofarts setting.
kids using ancient weapons, breaking,All you have to do is look around you to
and working in synchronizedsee more, and far worse, violence than
choreography, is more interesting to thelearning self-defense - integrated with
public, than a lecture, by me, aboutconstructive life skills. The fact is a
dealing with bullies without violence.martial artist is not a "street
However, let's take a closer look at thefighter." If that were a requirement,
ten minutes of flash. The next time youwe would recruit the toughest kids in
see a martial arts demonstration team,North Providence.
remember those children have to practiceAs I explain to the children in my
those techniques over and over again.Karate and Jujitsu classes, "Never
This requires self-discipline, goalforget the word, "artist," means to be
setting, perseverance, and each childcreative, to be an innovator, and to
being a team player.think for yourself." Children who learn
There is no room for a "one way"martial arts are more apt to be well
personality on any martial artsadjusted and defuse a potentially
demonstration team. Such a personalityviolent situation.
would work against a good publicOn top of that, most children who study
performance. In a typical Karate class,Karate, or any other martial art, will
all of the above-mentioned life skillsnot be "trouble makers." The children
are learned and much more.we teach from the Greater Providence,
Children learn much more about violenceRhode Island area have learned enough
on the television, playing with videoabout leadership, in our Karate and
games, and dealing with daily life, thanJujitsu classes, to think for
they will ever learn in a karate class.themselves.
Even if a Karate teacher was the classicFor parents, the gift of martial arts
"evil sensei," that you may have seen intraining to their children has many
the Karate Kid movie or on Kung Furewards, right now, and into their
Theatre, most children can think of farfuture.



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