The Next Karate Kid: Could it be your child?

The Next Karate Kid: Could it be your child?

The Benefits of Martial Arts Training for Children
by Hernán Guadalupe


With all the talk that is going on about martial arts due to the recent surge of block buster movies like ‘The Karate Kid’ and ‘The Last Air Bender’, people’s interest in martial arts has again sparked, but is there any real benefit for children and adults?

Putting Hollywood aside with all its jumping kicks and flips and theatrical stunts, martial arts has serious benefits to offer.

Did you know that Martial Arts training is 10 times more effective than any other team sport in developing a child’s self-esteem and confidence?

It’s not just about kicking and punching, rather it’s about developing a child’s inner and outer character and giving them the tools of confidence and discipline which they can use for the rest of their lives.

When a new student enters our school, I don’t think about him being the next world champion or the next black belt; instead, I am thinking about how he can become a better person through martial arts. We want to develop leaders and role models for our community; and martial arts, along with our unique way of life (Islam) are key factors in this process.

There is no question about it that Islam is our fundamental basis for our belief and way of life. Islam gives us the instruction and martial arts is the vehicle to implement what we learn. We teach our children that they should live healthy and moderate lives. Martial arts is the means to maintain a healthy way of life through exercise and dieting.

We teach our children to be confident and disciplined. Martial arts is the means to build a child’s confidence and develop discipline in their lives.

Martial arts is a great compliment to being Muslim. Based on our rich Islamic heritage, we know that Muslims were strong, brave, and confident people, especially the companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him). We see through their examples how they lived their lives, constantly exercising, maintaining a healthy way of life, balanced diet, and they were disciplined in pleasing Allah alone.

Living in today’s society, we don’t have the luxury of developing certain characteristics like they did. Because of this, many of our children become overweight and obese, they involve themselves in activities that don’t benefit them much like video games and they have low self-esteem and a lack of confidence. These problems have long-term effects on children.

Islam teaches us to be strong not only in relation to emaan, but also physically. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said in a hadeeth: “The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, but in both there is good.” (Muslim)

Many of the scholars mention that the strength here refers to actual physical strength and confidence. This is so because the physically strong Muslim has more strength to stand up in prayer and worship Allah without tiring. He also has the confidence and courage to call people to Islam and face adversity.

Imagine your children having this type of strength. Tell me what other sport or activity can help give your children that type of strength and character- building?

Martial arts is amazing. There is nothing more amazing than to have a new student walk into the school several weeks before who doesn’t smile, speak much, or interact with anyone in class, and after a short time is leading jumping jacks, counting out loud, and having a great time.

Martial arts is that opportunity you and your children have been looking for to develop positive, strong, and healthy personalities. It helps pave a way to success.

Ask yourself, how can anyone expect to succeed in life when they have never succeeded in anything before? Understand that success is a habit that is planted, cultivated, and nurtured.

Earlier I mentioned that martial arts is 10 times better than team sports in giving a child confidence, do you know why? You see, team sports focuses on a team effort. The team works together to reach a common goal. However, there may be times where some team members shine more than others and they carry the weight of those who are not working hard or living up to their part of the deal.

With martial arts, the goals are individualized which helps and encourages individual success and achievement. This helps build a child’s self-esteem and in return their self-worth grows.

Children begin to see themselves for the unique and valuable individuals they are and can begin to appreciate others for themselves. Martial arts teaches them that you must respect yourself before you can respect others.

Along with self-confidence, martial arts teaches children self-control. It shows children how to express themselves in a manner that is calm and cool and how to avoid conflict without the need for violence.

Being part of a martial arts program, children also learn teamwork, respect, and responsibility. Children learn to work together during exercises and drills, which helps develop their social skills along with their confidence to interact with others. Martial arts also stresses the aspect of respecting others such as the teachers and other students, as well as showing love and compassion for each other. It also stresses responsibility from the way you take care of your uniform to properly maintaining the facility in which your child trains. All of these qualities aid in developing leaders in our homes and in our communities.

Originally martial arts was developed as a means of self-preservation, to defend oneself from attack or invasion; however, spears and swords are no longer a common threat. Rather, self-doubt, feelings of worthlessness, inabilities, and lack of confidence to deal with the conflicts of day-to-day life are far greater threats on our developing children.

If martial arts can help a child see the true potential and beauty they possess inside; then why not give them that opportunity? Remember, there is no endeavor more worthy than the development and cultivation of our future ummah.

Hernán Guadalupe is the Head Instructor of Aqabah Karate. He is a 1st Degree Black Belt in Tang Soo Do and has over 12 years of Martial Arts experience.

Taken from Aqabah Karate's July 2010 Newsletter Issue 2