Whole Kid Health Starts with Movement

The tremendous academic benefits of physical activity are a new angle for parents to look at when thinking about exercise and their kids. 

Martial arts for kids is tied closely together with goal setting. Goals are naturally built into any kind of self defense or martial arts training, no matter how old you are. Moving from one level to another requires kids to master certain skills in order, practicing them over time and building up their ability. It’s also great because kids can see their progress over time in physical ways. For instance they’ll be able to run faster or kick higher. That sense of accomplishment builds on itself, encouraging kids to come back for more! 

Academic challenges are not the same as physical challenges, but that difference is part of why learning a sport is so important for kids’ academic success. Learning that they can overcome challenges in a supportive environment like a dojo builds confidence. That confidence doesn’t just stay on the mats, it goes with them out the door and stays with them when they sit down to do their homework or when they have to take a test. 

Movement for kids supports longer attention spans. That’s right – when kids are physically active, they get bored less and can focus more easily. This is hands down one of the best reasons to start martial arts training for kids, because increased focus is a major skill that transfers to school in wonderful ways. Memory improves too, as well as the ability to put together information. This has a lot to do with brain chemistry and the flood of positive chemicals that happens when kids exercise. When the blood gets pumping to grow those muscles, it’s also pumping through the brain to help it grow. 

No discussion of the connection between academic studies and physical activity can be complete without talking about problem solving. In kid’s self defense class, kids are constantly confronted with tasks that they have to do that they’ve never come across before. How to move effectively, either by imitating the instructor or by following instructions, helps kids learn how to think critically and problem solve. In a self defense class for kids, there’s also active problem solving component.