Martial arts programs are great for both the mind and body. In fact, a study from 2017 found that nearly 2.38 million people aged six years and up took part in some type of martial arts class for fitness purposes. However, you might be thinking of enrolling your child in martial arts for the mental benefits. There’s so much more to martial arts than simply learning how to defend yourself. It’s extremely important for children to learn the skills taught by martial arts instructors. Considering that, here are four ways learning kickboxing strengthens a child’s mind.
- Increasing Your Child’s Confidence
Taking part in kickboxing classes allows children to learn how to protect themselves. In turn, this helps to instill a sense of self confidence in almost every child. This increased confidence is great for your child to have throughout life. As your child continues to master new lessons, their self confidence increases. - Practicing Self Control
In addition to protecting themselves, children taking kickboxing classes learn important lessons. These lessons often focus on practicing proper self control. As time goes on, your child will practice proper self control while in school at home. Children that know the proper importance of self control are often less likely to misbehave at home or school. - Becoming Comfortable in Social Settings
Statistics show that an estimated 66% of parents worry their children are spending far too long on electronic devices each day. Enrolling in a kickboxing class is a great way to keep your child off of the phone or tablet. In addition, these classes get children out of the house where they can spend time together. This often leads to your child making plenty of new friends and becoming more sociable. - Instilling a Sense of Responsibility
Children regularly taking martial arts classes tend to have quite a sense of responsibility. Martial arts students know they’re learning something incredibly important. Instructors will continue to let students know that their skills should only be utilized in emergency situations. This sense of responsibility is likely to help your child make smarter decisions, especially important as they become teenagers and adults.
To summarize, there are several positive mental aspects of taking kickboxing classes. Statistics from 2016 found that nearly 6.9 million took part in some type of kickboxing program. If you’re a parent, consider taking adult classes. This can help you to further bond with your child through martial arts. For instance, you might find that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu or BJJ is interesting.