Some people think kids martial arts is tantamount to teaching kids aggressive things. This is not so, kids martial arts is a sport and as such teaches discipline as well in this ever-changing world, self defense. Some of the possible benefits of kids martial arts would be control of aggressiveness, instilling self-respect and self-control.

It is said that the reason that we have such nasty things happening, school shootings, rages and gang fights is because we no longer have things like national service where young men and women have to serve a time with our defence forces. It is also evident that kids and teenagers who do not participate in any type of sport also tend to lack self discipline and control hence get involved, unfettered drinking and drugs and violence. This is why I believe kids martial arts is just one of those sports that gears the child to positive discipline.




When deciding to have your child involved in kids martial arts it is important that you pick an appropriate kids martial arts academy that follows the strict meaning of the art. The major issue with children in the kids martial arts is the integrity and trustworthiness of the teacher and the school.

Remember that your child is still developing physically. The joints and connective tissues of children are more vulnerable to injury than those of adults. Keep this in mind when selecting a style and school for a child and discuss it with the instructor. Kids martial arts schools which allow aggressive joint locks to be applied to children or don’t train them to refrain from snapping/hyper-extending elbows on strikes and knees or kicks should be avoided.

There is no set age for a child to begin kids martial arts training. You as a parent are best suited to judge whether their child is ready to begin some form of kids martial arts training. Your child must be able to follow instructions and mimic actions that are shown to them. Generally the best age for a child to start kids martial arts training is between the ages of 5 to 10 years. This age range is because it is usually accepted that if a child is able to work in a school environment then they should be able to begin learning kids martial arts and the discipline that it entails.

As the number of obese and overweight children in the United States continues to climb, fitness is a consideration that weighs heavily on the minds of parents, caretakers and teachers. The risk of health issues accompanying obesity among children provokes many fears that unless parents and children make significant changes in the lifestyles inhabited by our kids, diabetes, heart disease, and other weight related conditions have the potential to run rampant among American youth.

Importance of Fitness for Children

Although encouraging a healthy lifestyle, among children, that includes physical activity and fitness is vital to addressing issues associated with health problems and obesity, the addition of kid's fitness can also promote a lifelong love. Fitness not only encourages physical activity, keeping weight and accompanying conditions at bay, it also helps protect children from injuries that can occur when they are not accustomed to physical activity, movement and sports. Most injuries that plague children completing physical activities occur as a result of a lifestyle that lacks movement and activity that can provide balance, coordination and muscle memory necessary for a fit lifestyle.

Fitness and Physical Activity Benefits

Despite statistics praising physical activity among children as a weight management tool and method of decreasing injuries during activities and sports, fitness among children boasts a plethora of positive results and side effects. Strong bones and joints, stress relief, self confidence improvement and better academic concentration are just some of the other benefits touted by a child's active lifestyle, says HealthyChildren.org. In fact, according to the children's organization advocating a healthy lifestyle among youth, children who participate in sports, physical activities and other types of fitness positively affects the social lives of participants, offering a socially acceptable activity and associated peers.

Implementing Fitness and Physical Activity among Children

Understanding what types of activities and scheduling conflicts are preventing a child from obtaining a sufficient amount of physical activity and fitness can be a good way for parents to begin to understand how and where transformations can be made regarding kids' health. Tracking the amount of activity a child partakes can be as simple as gaining an awareness of their school schedules and whether they include physical education classes, recess and other ways children participate in fitness centered activities. Children who participate in a variety of physically demanding activities at school, such as extracurricular athletics or PE classes may not need as much prompting and extra fitness added to their day as a child who spends more time still and sedentary.

Set an Example

One of the best ways parents, caregivers and teachers can prompt children to compete in fitness activities and grasp a healthy lifestyle is by striving toward adopting a similar lifestyle that promotes and values physical activity. In fact, according to USA Today "No Time to Weight," children with even one obese parent have a 50 percent chance of being obese themselves. Children with two obese parents have an 80 percent chance of following in their footsteps, the article continues. Children who observe healthy lifestyles in their parents and role models have a better chance of adopting similar habits, highlighting the vital role parents play in influencing the fitness levels and physical activity of children.