Learning About the Benefits of Martial Arts for Kids

Martial arts are not only for adults. Most kids and teens are engaged in various martial arts classes all throughout the world. Activities such as taekwondo, kung fu and aikido are fun ways to cater the physical and emotional needs of your child. Martial arts for kids will help boys and girls to achieve fitness and focus. Engaging your kids to these activities will instill courtesy and respect with other children in the community. Kids’ martial arts will instill life skills and attributes necessary for children to develop into confident individuals in this competitive society. 

Some parents may think that engaging their kids to martial arts will promote violence and brutality but this idea is considered myth by experts. Indeed, it is true that your kid’s interaction in the world around them at an early age is critical. Moreover, karate is known to be one of the most suitable martial arts for your kids. In karate school, appropriate programs and classes are specifically aimed to hone every child’s physical development and mental capabilities. 

Usually, courtesy is shown in every class beginning and ending with a bow to the teacher or master.  Warm-up exercises are conducted before going to the program proper. Students practice particular martial arts skills such as kicks, blocks and punches. Each skill requires concentration and strict attention. Progress of your kids is marked by belt system. Karate for kids starts with the beginner from a white belt through specified colors until the black belt. Testing and evaluation for each level are held generally every three months. This will effectively help teachers and even parents to set and achieve goals. 

Benefits of Martial arts to your kids

Kids martial arts actually help teach children with self-discipline and socialization skills. Lessons in martial arts schools teach children valuable life lessons such as self-control, respect and the ability to safely defend oneself. It is also incorporated in martial arts for kids the skill of dedication to complete any activity and perseverance to pursue specific goals. According to experts, age six is usually an ideal age to start practices and classes. By that time, your child will have enough muscle control to kick or punch and turn properly and safely.  Actually, many parents whose children have Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) observed great improvement to their kids.It is also noted that these programs achieved success in indirectly applying therapy to kids therefore enhancing self-control which is underdeveloped in ADHD children. 

Choosing an ideal Martial arts school

Parents must be guided accordingly in choosing the right and effective martial arts school for their kids. They must see to it that classes are conducted not only to teach self-preservation skills but there must also be incorporation of dynamic activities, fun, games and learning of life’s important virtues. Classes must encourage kids to learn how to do routines properly without hurting other students. Every class should remind students the central goal of learning martial arts, to boost confidence and not to use the skills to bully other kids. Martial arts teachers or masters should be experts in handling kids’ attitudes, tantrums if any and behavior. It should be highlighted in every practice that using martial skills in an aggressive manner is totally against the principles and concepts of any martial arts for children’s school.

Why Is It Essential to Have MMA Equipment?

Whether you’re learning karate, judo, kung fu or any other martial art you’ll always need one or more equipment to properly practice it. Remember, learning martial arts is fun but it’s not too easy. Moreover, it is also an art and any sort of art needs some equipment to get without a hitch. So if you want to become a martial art master or a champion of mixed martial arts, then you must have your martial arts or MMA equipment ready and more importantly, you must to know how to use them properly.    

Use the Equipment that Suits the Style 

In order to learn martial arts, first thing you have to do is to buy a uniform that suits your martial art style. Different types of martial arts require different types of uniforms but of course when you’ll join a martial arts school you’ll know what to do. There are different sizes of uniforms for men, women and even for children, so you’ll have plenty of options to choose your one. For example, uniforms for taekwondo differ from the uniforms used in karate regarding the V-neck collars though both of them use the same white uniforms. As for kickboxing, you’ll need a pair of boxing gloves along with those comfortable boxing shorts that will let you fight with ease.  

 

Use of Protective Equipment

In every martial arts lesson, you’ll need to wear equipment for protection. If you are trying to learn traditional martial arts like kung fu, then you will need to wear protective guards in order to avoid injuries. You can use a head guard to protect your head while training. If you are anxious about getting hit, then it’s generally a good idea to use other shielding gears like shin pads. Using these types of gears will help you to reduce your anxiety regarding injuries. Although whether you use any protective equipment or not mainly depends on the instructor of the course, but it also depends a great deal on your personal preference as well.    

Use of Weapons

Among the martial arts equipment, the use of weapons is the most interesting part. Generally, you can use the weapons on your own without the help of anyone, but during the first few lessons it’s better to use them in front of your instructor. It’s always better to get to know something properly before using it and the same goes in this case as well. There are lots of weapons you can choose from like Nunchaku, the Blade, Bokken, Tonfa and the Sticks (Single or Double) but you have to make sure whatever you use, you use it perfectly. Take the advice of your instructor which one to use when and you’ll get the right suggestion. Remember that for these weapons can be used in variety of types of martial arts, so you can always switch the style whenever you like. But of course you will require the instructor’s permission to do so. 

So whatever the case is, you can always get your MMA equipment that you need. You can also use them in whatever ways you like, but always remember to use the weapons with caution. Because of the main goals of martial arts is to defend oneself, not to hurt the others.  

The Importance of Mixed Martial Arts

The popularity of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and shoot wrestling has led to the creation of American and Japanese mixed martial arts. This kind of full contact combat sports was originally held as a competition aiming to discover the most effective martial arts which will be very helpful in real unarmed combat situation. In 1995, the sport got its coined name by the President and CEO of Battlecade, Rick Blume, and now famously known as the “mixed martial arts”. At first, the players are to follow minimal rules. As fighters executed multiple martial arts, organizers and promoters started to employ additional rules to intensify safety and secure mainstream acceptance as a sport.

With the warm acceptance from the audience and avid fans, mixed martial arts practice has spread around the globe. Adults, kids and teens have enrolled to various martial art schools that offered courses for different types of martial arts. With the purpose of learning the art of fighting, most of the students aim to become experts in this field and become professional competitors of this sport. Although this was primarily practiced almost exclusively by competitive fighters, it has become available to wide range of practitioners of any age and with varying levels of competitiveness. Martial arts courses include judo, muay Thai, taekwondo, karate, wrestling and others.

Usually, fighters train with different styles under multiple coaches or an organized fight team. Before going to complex styles and fighting techniques, players must learn the common disciplines in mixed martial arts which are gained from traditional martial arts. The following enumerates three common disciplines of mixed martial arts: 

a.   Stand-up fighting tactic

This discipline consists of effective stand-up striking while the fighter avoids ground fighting. This style is usually applied using sprawls to defend against takedowns. Footwork, kicking, elbowing and punching are enhanced in this style. Muay Thai kickboxing and Karate principles are usually applied in this discipline.

b.   Clinch 

Applied by wrestlers and Judokas, clinch fighting as well as dirty boxing are tactics used to prevent opponent from moving away into more distant striking range. This tactic is applied in attempting takedowns and striking competitor using knees, elbows, punches and stomp. 

c.    Ground

Another strategy to takedown or throw opponent to the ground is the ground-and-pound. An effective ground technique will let opponent obtain a top or dominant position then strike opponent with fists and elbow. This fighting tactic is aimed to attempt submission holds. 

Although males dominate mixed martial arts, the sport also has female players commonly coming from Japan. Personalities such as Megumi Fujii, Gina Carano and Miesha Tate have represented women power and known as faces of women’s MMA. 

MMA equipment and clothing gear

To preclude the use of fighting kimono, MMA promotions have required male and female fighters to wear appropriate fighting attire. Male fighters play bare-chested and wear shorts as well as groin protectors underneath their trunks. Female fighters wear shorts and sports bras or other similarly fitting tops. Both fighters are required to wear mouth guards and rash guards. Choosing the best MMA equipment and gear must be based on functionality, style, and quality craftsmanship. Examples of quality clothing gear include Sprawl Fusion shorts, UFC fight and sparring gloves, brain pad mouth guards and grappling shin guard.

Jiu Jitsu, Taekwondo and Muay Thai: Body and Mind Fitness

Training in martial arts is known to impart several benefits to practitioners. Aside from fitness and wellness benefits, martial arts exercises contribute mental soundness, boosts self-confidence, spiritual and emotional well-being. Various martial arts schools then focus on therapeutic aspects rather than emphasize on self defense and combat. Martial arts courses on jiu jitsu, taekwondo and muay thai kickboxing are popularly offered in many schools since these are known to cater emotional communication and expression. 

Grappling and ground fighting with Jiu Jitsu

Considered as the most modified version of Japanese Jujutsu and modern day Judo, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is the most popular ground-based fighting style. This fighting tactic emphasizes on chokes, positioning and joint locks. The unique style of this martial art dwells mainly on self defense, grappling and mixed martial arts. With focus on competition and gaining dominant positions, this martial arts fighting technique is aimed to force opponent to submit. This art of fighting began with the teachings of Mitsuyo Maeda, a Japanese master who immigrated to Brazil. He then taught to different students his techniques and found Carlos Gracie who excelled at the practice and martial art theories. After years of teaching this fighting technique, the Gracie family bring the Brazilian Jiu-jitsu throughout the 20^th century.

Taekwondo as hard-style martial arts

Although recognized as the national sport of South Korea, Taekwondo has been influenced by the martial arts of China and Japan. This fighting style is considered hard-style martial arts that mainly focus on defense style, sport, combative technique, exercise and philosophy. The term “taekwondo” is translated as “the way of the foot and the fist” since this includes powerful hand-strikes, blocks, jumps, kicks and spins. During the summer Olympics in 2000, sparring system of taekwondo has become one of the sports. Sparring is recognized to be acceptable to all practitioners while grappling techniques are only performed by higher practiced individuals with higher belt levels. Modern teachings of this martial art support the idea that anyone can learn this art regardless of age, sex or size. Many students are enthusiastic to participate in taekwondo practices because it develops stamina, flexibility, speed and helps strengthen muscles. Aside from being a popular sport, techniques in taekwondo can be used effectively as self defense. 

Muay Thai- striking foundation in MMA

Known as the “art of eight limbs”, Muay Thai kickboxing originated in Thailand. This is referred as such because of the use of legs, elbows, knees and fists. Thus, a Muay Thai practitioner known as a nak muay uses eight points of contact as opposed to “two points” in boxing and “four points” in other combat sports. This is also a fighting art of attrition where opponents exchange blows with one another. Muay Thai has become the foundation of countless mixed martial artists. Its techniques are used predominantly as effective stand-up fighting technique in MMA fights. This consists of stand-up striking and sprawls are usually employed to defend against takedowns. Often MMA fighters focus on studying submission to avoid being forced into submission. 

These are just three of the various types of martial arts that have become part of the world of sports. Students including adults, kids and teens have enrolled to martial arts schools to be at least physically fit or learn techniques on how to protect oneself in times of adversity. Training methods dwell mostly on self-preservation methods by teaching famous hand-to-hand combat, boxing techniques and self-defense stances.