subject: Martial Arts Training For Sporty And Un-sporty Kids [print this page] While there is a huge range of after school club activities for kids to try not all are suitable for the less sporty kids. These kids may not fancy football or gymnastics and although guitar lessons or the like will add focus to a child's routine they won't help stave off obesity! However, un-sporty kids can glean a lot of benefit from Martial Arts training and have a lot of fun doing so!
Kids that aren't sporty at all can often be a little bit of an outcast and shy. They really do benefit from the confidence that Martial Arts training can bring. Each class, even, can bring a boost to confidence and serve as a little lesson in life. What once seemed impossible becomes achievable, then accomplished and finally forgotten as it just ends up easy to do. This same process is repeated time after time.
Kids can really get a boost from improving their Martial Arts skills and particularly when earning a new belt at a grading. While some schools hand them out without a test day as such, most involve a structured grading test. As skills are picked up over time so the tests become progressively harder meaning that more is required of the child as they go on. This requires them to practice outside of class and really show an effort and desire to pass each grading. They have to not only want it but also show that they want it.
All kids can develop good habits off the back of their training, or good life skills if you like. They learn that putting effort in will get results, that coasting gets you exactly what you deserve - nothing! For sporty kids this will not be a new realisation, at least in some cases, as effort is required to get good at any physical pursuit. Practice makes perfect.
Sometimes though, a naturally gifted child who picks up physical skills quickly may be overtaken by the less naturally athletic child, in one or two areas at least. No matter how gifted, in Martial Arts training there will be something that is difficult to master. The un-sporty child that has to work at everything to make progress will do just that and will plug away until they get it. Gifted sporty kids, however, will go one of two ways, either they will be determined to do well and will put in the effort required or will try to avoid doing what they struggle with.
Martial Arts training is a great leveller and proving ground for un-sporty kids and gifted children alike, eventually at least. It's a fantastic arena that will help them develop as they grow up, with a never ending series of challenges and rewards to be overcome or strived for. Martial Arts classes are great for kids so why not search some out for your Karate kids?
