Dear friends, I would like to share an article about the benefits of martial arts. This article is dedicated to teachers, martial arts instructors, to those who is trying to become a professional, to those who constantly seeks self-improvement and devoted themselves to the study and application of martial art skills.
The Benefits Of Martial Arts For Children.
Introduction
Since the creation of humankind and till this very day, people have been struggling for existence, they had to fight natural disasters, predators and also against each other.
The first invention of the most primitive types of weapons and their application signified the beginning of martial arts. Fight for resources, territory, power and domination served as a catalyst of war craft, and hand-to-hand combat has always been its crucial part. The need to defend yourself, your family, your tribe, your crops and your trade caravans forced people to learn self-defence techniques both armed and without a weapon.
Nowadays we no longer need to hunt a big furry mammoth in order to feed our family or defend our cave from wild animals with a club in our hand. The era of pirates and robbers is over. There is a decline in the rate of street crimes due to the advent of technology and the professionalism of law-enforcement agencies, especially in developed countries. There are cameras almost everywhere and any attempts on criminal activity are cut off by a nearby patrol.
So why do we need martial arts today?
Of course, police is not always there to protect you, furthermore there are spots hidden from cameras and people too. There are plenty of scenarios where individuals are forced to rely solely on their own ability to defend themselves from violent aggression.
The fact is that martial arts training allows you to protect yourself and your loved ones in case of an imminent danger is the least of its benefits.
Not only will martial arts help you stay fit, they will also reduce your stress level, build confidence, improve attention, self-discipline and orderliness and move along the path of self-development and self-awareness.
Here is a detailed description of what martial arts could offer, taking into account a person’s age as well as what they could offer regardless of one’s age.
Benefits for Children
The modern society has to face a range of challenges when it comes to children mental health. More and more children are born with mental disorders such as attention deficit, excessive violence, anxiety, depression, Tourette Syndrome, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and pathological demand avoidance. The number of stories of child and teenage violence in the news is ever increasing. Unfortunately, the overall health of children has also decreased, while the risk of heart issues, cancer and arthritis among children is only increasing. More and more children nowadays are obese which leads to dramatic health consequences.
Qualified professionals and martial arts instructors have the capacity to solve most of the problems related to mental and physical health of children. Currently, there are three complex programs developed by such martial arts instructors, which are meant to help children overcome these issues and develop necessary physical, social, motor skills as well as strong will, perception and leadership. Even children as young as three are capable of learning the basic movements, which will help them improve balance, coordination and space perception. Boys and girls, who do martial arts on a regular basis, will eventually develop complex sophisticated skills and patterns of movement, which will stimulate their ability to concentrate, to achieve goals they set in life and will in turn increase self-respect, self-esteem and self-discipline.
Furthermore, children will learn how to work both in a group and independently. Children will make friends and gain positive experience from collaboration, teamwork and mutual progress together with classmates and teachers. The experience of mutual support will ensure the development of the right priorities in a child, it will give them a better and deeper understanding of moral values, which they will need in the society.
These values include self-respect and respect to others, ability to clearly express one’s thoughts, critical thinking, the importance of having an opinion, ability to work in a team, persistence and patience. Children will learn work ethics through discipline as well as the sense of accomplishment. The martial arts lesson will help them have a healthy body, become stronger, more flexible, it will teach them to protect the weak from the strong.
To sum up, girls and boys will learn how to effectively solve various problems, will become better prepared physically, mentally and spiritually in the face of modern realities and unexpected challenges.
Frequently, professional psychologists and sociologist as well as healthcare and social service workers recommend martial arts training as a way of helping the child to discover their potential and abilities, to learn discipline and orderliness.
When children are learning various self-defence techniques, when they master sophisticated movements, when they pass belt certification exams and reach the long-awaited black belt, they realize the significance of the role they play within the society by setting an example to other kids and adults.
Sincerely yours,
Vidadi Hajiyev