Martial arts classes are beneficial to teenagers in many ways, from keeping them fit to teaching key life skills. Whether your teen has expressed an interest in martial arts or you're looking for a great new after-school club for them, this guide explains why martial arts are a great option for teenagers.
Help Them to Keep Healthy and Fit
Martial arts classes are a great way to keep fit and healthy, especially for teenagers who don't like doing sports at school. They will provide cardio exercise, getting your teenager moving, but will also improve their balance and flexibility. Repeated movements will also strengthen their muscles and improve stamina. Plus, if they find that they love martial arts, it will make exercising fun and give them a better relationship with fitness for their whole life.
Boost Their Social Skills and Confidence
The second way that martial arts classes can benefit your teenager is the social aspect. If they are in a class with other teens, it will allow them to forge new friendships away from school, and meet people they otherwise would not have met. If the class is for a more mixed age group, they will learn to interact with people who are different from them, which is an essential skill. WebMD also explains that young people who do extracurricular activities feel a higher sense of belonging. All of this is sure to boost social confidence.
Let Them Learn Self-Defence
Ideally, your child will never have to defend themselves. However, it's still a good idea to ensure they know how to do so. There are specific classes that teach self-defence, but all martial arts classes will give your teenager an idea of how to defend themselves. They will learn how to defend themselves safely, without harming the other person too much, and will feel empowered to do so. Many martial arts include grappling or sparring with a person of a different size or weight, which is excellent self-defence training.
Teach Them Important Skills
Finally, martial arts classes will teach your teenager invaluable skills that will benefit them throughout their life. For example, the progression through belts or badges will teach them to set goals and work to reach them. Failing to do a certain move or to do a certain task will teach them to keep trying, while success will boost their self-esteem. They will also learn that it's okay to try new things, fail, and ask for help from teachers or peers. All of these skills will prepare them for the world of adulthood.
Whether your teenager wants to get fit, meet new people, learn life skills, or learn self-defence, martial arts classes can help them meet their goals. Find classes in your local area and speak to your teenager about what kind of martial arts they want to do.
