Kids’ Classes
Why your child will benefit from martial arts…
Harnessing the energy of your child and channelling it is a challenge for all parents. Yet one way of succeeding in making a child a stronger person, both mentally and physically, is martial arts training.
Parents that encourage their children to participate in regular martial arts classes, no matter what style is chosen, are extremely positive about the benefits gained. One such parent is Wayne Powell, father of six year old Aaron. Aaron has been attending classes in Southern Crane Kung Fu for six months.
Wayne explains why he and his son enjoy the lessons: “Aaron has a great time in class, learning and socialising with the other kids. I started him off in the classes because I wanted to keep him active, and also because of the discipline side of things. It’s not about him throwing his weight around; it’s the mental discipline that’s important. Kung Fu is making him into a better behaved, more balanced kid.”
The classes that Aaron attends work by punctuating learning in studious silence with raucous moments of racing around and hitting and kicking pads.
Darren Trottman, Aaron’s instructor, comments: ‘Kung Fu is great fun and is an ideal way of getting kids active and giving them a focus in life. By learning Kung Fu, the child is confident, but humble enough to know his or her limits and disciplined enough to control themselves’.
Classes are not about boot camp rules; learning has to be like a game. While children are very clever, capable of learning complex techniques, working out difficult tasks and remembering movements, if a class is not fun, the instructor will not hold attention.
The discipline of martial arts training is not about the strict rules that are often forced upon children. Martial arts teaches kids discipline, but in a different way from how they are taught at school. With martial arts it is the child’s choice to learn, so while there are rules, by coming to class the child takes on the basic principles put forward and puts them into practise by themselves. The young students teach themselves to be disciplined.
Physically, children will develop strong bodies that will act as a basis for them to grow well. Martial arts will help children’s bodies to grow correctly, while also increasing general fitness, coordination and suppleness.
Everything starts with foundation training in martial arts. Children are taught how to use their toes and knees, which will help keep their bodies in line by supporting the spine properly. This makes their bodies stronger, helping eradicate physical problems as the child grows.
Young students are not expected to achieve perfection in martial arts as they are too young to understand the finer details of movements and their bodies are not ready for hard training. However, they have fun, stay fit, socialise with other children and learn to take instruction, control themselves mentally and increase physical coordination.
Continuing, Wayne says: “Hopefully the discipline in Aaron’s movements will come later, but it’s nice there’s a mental discipline in the lifestyle of Kung Fu, that he is being taught.”
Aaron attends Darren Trottman’s Southern Crane Kung fu classes at Sutton Junior Tennis Centre and Granfers Community Centre, Sutton, Surrey.
Please check Kids Class timetable for info.