Copyright (c) 2013 Mike Danich
If you've ever seen the classic 1984 movie The Karate Kid, you know that martial arts are not at all about violence. In the film, karate master Mr. Miyagi teaches young Daniel to wash cars, wax the floor, paint the house, balance against breaking waves, trim delicate bonsai trees, and respect his mother. At one point in the film, Daniel is fed up with such meaningless and unrelated tasks, and in an explosive scene tells his instructor so. Then, in a moment of epiphany, all of the chores that Daniel completed come together in a fabulous martial arts sequence where Mr. Miyagi shows Daniel that he has been learning the art of karate all along.
Karate was first born about 1000 years ago in what is now Okinawa, Japan. After WWII, it became popular with American military servicemen who were stationed there, and subsequently moved to the US. Wave after wave of movies and films introduced karate as some sort of super fighting power. But the reality is that karate is not about violence at all. Karate is about deep spiritual and psychological equilibrium; it is about respect, about self-control and self-confidence. Karate is more than just an exercise or a kicking routine--it is a complete way of life. As such, does Karate training have benefits for children and young adults? Absolutely yes! At least it does if you consider respect, self-control and discipline to be benefits.
1. Control: Karate students learn to control their muscles and their bodies as they learn distinct body patterns and moves, and they learn to control their passions, using defense as necessary and not as a means of violence
2. Respect: All learners of Karate come to respect their bodies and the bodies of others. They learn to respect their karate instructor, their elders, and all the other students around them.
3. Spiritual Equilibrium: The basic tenets of Karate are built on deep Eastern spiritual roots. Children who are exposed to this martial arts technique come to appreciate that life is not all about them, and that there are ancient codes of honor and ethics that ought to be respected.
4. Physical well-being: Like any physically-demanding exercise, Karate provides the stimulation and energy-release that keep kids' bodies functioning at their very best. In our increasingly lazy and couch-bound society, Karate is an outlet that helps children and families to "unplug" and to experience movement in an exciting way.
5. Conquering challenges: Kids who learn the value of preparing themselves and facing their fears in an effort to move to the next level--or in this case, the next belt--are better equipped for life. Studies show that such children have a higher propensity for success in the real world, whether it be in schoolwork, conflict resolution, or leadership responsibilities.
Karate is life-changing. It is beneficial for children. And though you may not find your young Karate student out waxing floors or washing cars, you will find that child to be confident, respectful and well-adjusted to face the realities of life.
----------------------------------------------------
Tiffany Krall is a USSD (United Studios of Self Defense) instructor at West Jordan Karate. She has a passion for teaching Karate, and specializes in the instruction of children and adults. For more information, visit http://www.localkaratelessons.com
EasyPublish this article: http://submityourarticle.com/articles/easypublish.php?art_id=326039
No comments:
Post a Comment