BENEFITS OF CHILDREN AGED 6 TO 14 YEARS LEARNING MARTIAL ARTS
Short-Term and Long-Term Benefits of 6 to 14-Year-Olds Learning Martial Arts
Martial arts encompass a wide range of fighting traditions and systems such as karate, judo, kickboxing, and kung-fu and known to be a part of the history and culture of many Asian countries. Recently it has increased in popularity and is now widely accepted across different countries as part of the normal lifestyle and fitness regime. Empirical studies in the areas of sports psychology, pedagogy, sociology, and philosophy have explored the significant positive outcomes of fostering martial arts training among school-aged children and youths, which every parent should know. The short-term and long-term benefits include:
- Social and Psychological Benefits: Self-regulation
Self-regulation refers to the socio-psychological processes aimed at changing an individual’s behavior, emotions, and thoughts. Historically, hundreds of existing distinctive styles of martial arts supported the development of self-regulation through self- or body control, and discipline. This involves character training and is an inherent critical aspect of traditional martial arts, which emphasizes the importance of teaching a person how to become more self-aware and have better, desirable, and acceptable behaviors and thoughts in the society (Vertonghen & Theeboom, 2010).
When your children aged 6 to 14 years are involved in various traditional classes of martial arts training, they gain more cognitive and physical developmental self-regulation capabilities to help them understand and adapt to the desired moral values and beliefs accepted by society. In particular, martial arts training teaches children to change their perceptions of body image and provides them with skills necessary to improve their self-esteem and confidence (Lakes & Hoyt, 2004). Children also realize positive character growth such as the importance of respecting others, possessing discipline, and decreasing aggression and anxiety, while at the same time learning positive developmental problem-solving life skills to make their future more interesting, enjoyable, and successful (De Oliveira Fernandes, 2014).
- Self-defense
One in every three or more school-aged children and adolescents are potential victims of various forms of abuse such as bullying, sexual abuse, or physical abuse. Subsequently, this abuse may have potential short and long-term negative consequences on the victimized children. Parents, guardians, and educators should recognize and consider the importance of having martial arts training classes for their children and students to help reduce the incidences and prevalence of bullying behaviors. Martial arts help to change attitudes and behaviors and decrease the sense of responsibility or guilt among the bullied students. It also provides an avenue for these vulnerable students who, do to peer rejection and bullying, now have an opportunity to attain self-defense skills and build the necessary confidence to protect themselves. For those students who are the “bullies,” it can offer a physical and emotional release, and teach them discipline. As a result, this helps create a “violence-free” school-learning environment and culture that is characterized by friendship, perseverance, respect and integrity, and improved performance at school (Moody, 2012).
- Physical Fitness
Martial arts training serves as a critical prevention and treatment measure against various health risks associated with musculoskeletal, inflammatory, or motor illnesses. School-aged children and adolescents involved in martial arts training participate in different exercises to maintain a fit body and reduce the risks of being overweight or obese. The martial arts exercises also increase flexibility, muscle strength, and mental focus, as well as reduce stress and anxiety. This helps the children manage pain related to childhood malignancy and cancer, increase adherence to medication regimens, and overcome various conditions associated with physical and mental illnesses (depression) and rheumatoid arthritis (Bluth & Thomas et al., 2016).
Additionally, martial arts training integrates a combination of body and mind exercises through physical activity and meditation which has greater long-term psychological benefits. It is reported that integrated martial arts training strengthens children’s self-knowledge, attitudes, and morals, improves self-confidence, and instills a desire to become more productive and successful in life (Swiercz, 2014).
In the recent past, there have been increasingly positive effects associated with training and involvement in martial arts, to include learning self-defense, being active, staying physically fit, and achieving mental and spiritual development, among others. There is compelling evidence presented in a number of studies that support the short-term and long-term benefits of learning martial arts during childhood. It is, therefore, important to understand the overwhelming benefits of allowing, encouraging, and influencing your children and youths (ages 6-14 years) to learn and master various martial arts skills.
References
Bluth, M. H., & Thomas, R. et al. (2016). Martial Arts Intervention Decreases Pain Scores in
Children with Malignancy. Pediatric Health, Medicine and Therapeutics, 2016 (7) 79-87 doi: https://doi.org/10.2147/PHMT.S104021
De Oliveira Fernandes, T. (2014). Team Sports, Martial Arts and Combat Sports as Preventive
Social Work. A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Based Project for School-Aged Children. Retrieved on 16th September 2017 from https://www.theseus.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/82420/%20SPORTS%20AS%20PREVE NTIVE%20SOCIAL%20WORK%20-%20A%20Brazilian%20Jiu- Jitsu%20based%20project%20for%20school-aged%20children.pdf?sequence=1
Lakes, K. D., & Hoyt, W. T. (2004). Promoting Self-Regulation Through School-Based Martial
Arts Training. Applied Developmental Psychology, 25 (1) 283-302. doi:10.1016/j.appdev.2004.04.002
Moody, G. (May, 2012). The Effects of Martial Arts on Bullying in Children. Arizona State
University (ASU) Digital. Retrieved on 16th September 2017 from https://repository.asu.edu/attachments/93906/content//tmp/package- _1CWzr/Moody_asu_0010E_11930.pdf
Swiercz, A. P. (September 12, 2014). The Physical and Psychological Benefits of Martial Arts
Training. Evolution Martial Arts. Retrieved on 16th September 2017 from https://www.evolutionmaa.com/921/
Vertonghen,V., & Theeboom, M. (2010). The Social-Psychological Outcomes of Martial Arts
Practice Among Youth: A Review. J Sports Sci Med., 9(4): 528-537
