by Karate builds character and the Erima Kyokushin Karate Dojo has introduced kids’ classes to do just that. According a post on Facebook by Chief Instructor, Sempai Bernard Soari, registrations are now open for children between the ages of 5 to 12 years to enroll for classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 – 5pm and Saturdays from 9 – 10:30 in the morning at Bavaroko Primary School hall.
Soari, who is himself a former Papua New Guinea and Australian champion in the full contact knockdown style of Karate, also said the commitment and dedication has inspired his students not only to excel in the martial arts but also academically. A statement other literatures agree with.
According to Parenting.com, martial arts is a great way for children to achieve fitness and focus, with parents whose children had Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD reporting positive results because of the self-control and concentration learnt. However, these are not the only benefits that have been observed.
In an article in the Huffington Post, Stacey Nemour observed the benefits of martial arts on her students. She wrote,
After twenty years of teaching martial arts to students from age three to eighty, I have observed that the benefits to every age has been nothing less than astonishing! Some include control of aggressive behavior and the gain of self-respect, self-control, self-defense, self esteem, focus, confidence, and courtesy. As an additional benefit, the child will also excel in other athletic endeavors. Martial arts training gives your son or daughter the chance to strengthen in mind as well as body. I encompasses not just the physical aspect of the “sport”, but mental and emotional lessons as well.
The option to enroll a child into martial arts is a parents’ prerogative. However, many who have done so have noted many positive influences. According posts on the CircleofMoms website, most have found enrolling their children in karate has been a great choice.
For example, Francene posted,
I enrolled my son in Karate when he was 6 yrs. old. It was a great choice for us. He learned about being physically fit, how to void a fight, and how to defend himself if necessary. The classes really built his confidence and self-esteem. He also learned about setting personal goals, respecting others as yourself, and as he advanced in rank he began to learn about leadership (being a good example to those who are beginning).
I say it is good investment for a boy or girl.
But she is not the only one to have observed this; Tara also shared her experience,
I would have to ask them “wrong for what reasons?” As is the case in most of the previous responses…most people would agree that Karate is just wonderful for your child. My reasons are a bit different from the normal self defense logic however. My youngest son has Asperger’s Syndrome ( a very high functioning form of autism) and is socially challenged :o) He loves the “idea” of sports but is not a team player. We have found that not only does Karate give him the athletic outlet he so desires, but it enables him to do it as an individual in a group setting, if that makes sense. But by far the most rewarding thing he has taken from his karate experience is the ability to FOCUS! Once of the first things he learned were the 3 rules of the attention stance which are focus your eyes, focus your mind, focus your body. Now when he begins to melt down in public where we cannot send him to a quiet space…we can say to him “Alex, attention!” Yup…it looks odd, no doubt. But he gets it and it works!
Karate can be so much more than self defense…it is also about self-control and setting and achieving goals. There is no way that can be bad for any child!
Parents who wish to enrol their children at the Erima Kyokushin Karate Dojo can contact Sempai Bernard Soari on 7279 2854 or visit the PNG Kyokushin Karate Facebook page.
