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Why Karate for my Kids.
Martial art lessons provide
children with fun, exercise, discipline, self respect, respect for others,
self control and physical skills they can use their entire lives. Since the
mid 1900's, the West has come to realize the Martial Arts are a means of
self defense, not simply methods of fighting. Children learn and practice
awareness, quick thinking, ways to avoid situations as well as peaceful
ways to control events.
The capacity of the Martial
Arts to promote physical and mental health is widely appreciated and
documented. Some of the positive changes in your child's life will be
noticed immediately once they start training, other changes will develop
over time.
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What are the benefits?
Cardiovascular fitness is a
major benefit, large portions of each martial arts class are aerobic-type
activities in which children must breathe properly, thus pushing oxygen to
all parts of the body. This helps and increases the child's breathing
techniques and strength with in the lungs itself therefore strengthening
the oxygen supply to the body.
Muscular strength, increases
with consistent low impact exercises and techniques. The Martial Arts
develops strong arms, legs a torso muscles, these muscles are vital for the
balance and stability of the child as they play and grow in every day life.
A strong balanced child, is far less likely to fall or loss balance, than a
child with a under developed muscular system.
Quick reflexes, some people
are born with naturally quick reflexes, but most have to develop them. Many
times people have saved a falling glass etc that has been knocked off the
table, before its smashes on the floor, and thanked their quick reflexes.
These quick and lightning reflexes are developed through sports and
especially the Martial Arts. Classes present many opportunities for
children to improve their own reflexes are they react to the drills in
class, their partners moves and to the commands of the class instructor.
Many training drill are specifically design to improve alertness and
reflexes.
Flexibility, we have all seen
our children amaze us with their exhibitions of flexibly when they are
young. As children grow, their bodies change and their legs often grow
faster than their torsos. Normal play activities don't always keep the
muscles and ligaments limber and flexible during this time of growth.
Martial Arts classes include simple stretches and warm ups which help keep
children limber, and over a period of time, can re-create their earlier
flexibility. Increased flexibility enhances children's abilities to play,
jump, climb, run, skate and walk, and it also lessons the chance of injury.
Coordination, as well as
reflexes, flexibility and fitness the Martial Arts also improves
coordination, taking classes throughout their childhood helps children to
work through the awkward growth stages, to continually make adjustments to
their ever changing bodies. In class they learn a variety of basic
footwork, kicks, punches and blocks, these are all put together in
sequences which improve focus, discipline, control and coordination. Once
these basic moves are refined and coordination is improving more advanced
moves are introduced such as rolls, throws and break falling, these moves
takes the child's coordination to new higher level.
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Why Makoto Ryu Kids Karate?
Why Makoto Ryu Kids Karate, to
be simply put, is a specially designed Martial Arts system for KIDS ONLY,
the system is based around kids for kids to enhance and help them through
their every day lives as children. They learn in the areas of street smart
self defense, stranger danger, and anti bully techniques. The system is
designed to teach the kids to be aware, to think, and to react
appropriately. It provides children with personal space to learn about
themselves and their abilities, also to practice social and coping skills.
Many Martial Arts system teach
an adult system to kids, and through my experience I have seen that many of
the children drop out after a short time training, because the syllabus
taught becomes to difficult to understand and perform. This prompted me
design the kids syllabus while still following the traditional principles
and philosophy's of Karate. The Makoto Ryu Kids syllabus has proven over
time to keep the children interested while setting achievable goals, whilst
building the child's skills and attributes up towards the distinctive rank
of Black Belt. If a child starts at 4 yrs old and trains steadily over a
period of 7-8 years, if all goes well they would have completed the kids
syllabus from White belt through to Brown Black stripe belt. At this point
in time they would be around 12 years old, an in their personal lives they
would looking at moving on to Secondary school and a more mature stage of
their lives, the same thing happens with Makoto Ryu, the student would then
move on up into the adult class, retaining their Brown Black stripe belt
and train with the adults, as an adult, working towards their Black Belt.
The adults guide and help nurture the child through a difficult time of
change in their teenage years, their years of training and discipline now
pay off as they transform into a mature responsible adult.
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What to look for in a club?
If you are reading this you
are obviously looking at enrolling your child into a Martial Arts club,
before you do, take the time to check out what sort of Martial Arts club
your signing up to. The Martial Arts is an enlightening experience with
enormous physical, mental and social benefits for your child, the last
thing you want to do is enroll in a class that's not suitable for your
child, giving them a bad experience in the Martial Arts first up can
discourage them for ever.
Most adults do not no what to
look for in Martial Arts club, here's a few pointers to help you with the
decision making.
Always go and watch a class
before signing up, find out as much about the system before hand as you
can, like the belt ranking's etc. take notice during the class if there are
kids with belts from the higher and lower end of the scale, if the class is
predominantly all lower ranks, i.e. all white belts, either the club has
not been established long or the syllabus is too difficult for kids, if the
class is predominantly all higher rank kids, ask if there is a beginners
class and when is it, you could be watching the advanced class or maybe the
instructor is only interested in the kids who are naturally sports
orientated. If there is a balance of all belt ranks from white belt and up,
the instructor is obviously able to maintain and keep the kids interested.
Are there other Black Belts assisting, if there are, this is a sign the
Black Belts are happy with the way and what the instructor is teaching the
kids, also ask if the Head Instructor of the system visits, and how often,
if the Head Instructor rarely or never visits, the standard reason is
"no he's to busy". If the head Instructor is interstate or
overseas make allowances but if they are local they should visit regularly,
this shows they are interested in their instructors and their instructors
students.
Evaluate
the Instructor
This is a checklist on how to
evaluate and Instructor, it is meant as a guide line
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1. Is the
atmosphere in the school one that appeals to you?
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Yes/No
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2. Is the
Instructor mature?
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Yes/No
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3. Does the
instructor have clear goals for their students?
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Yes/No
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4. Does the
Instructor communicate well with the students?
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Yes/No
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5. Does the
Instructor provide constructive feedback?
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Yes/No
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6. Does the
Instructor teach class regularly?
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Yes/No
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7. Is the
Instructors teaching style clear and easily understood by the students?
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Yes/No
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8. Can the
Instructor adapt to changing class situations?
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Yes/No
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9. Can the
Instructor skillfully teach mixed age classes?
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Yes/No
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10. Does the
Instructor effectively discipline rule-breakers?
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Yes/No
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11. Does the
Instructor break down complex skills?
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Yes/No
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12. Does the
Instructor maintain a professional demeanor?
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Yes/No
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13. Is the
Instructor open to input?
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Yes/No
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14. Does the
Instructor encourage a honest positive training attitude?
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Yes/No
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15. Is the
Instructor skilled in the Martial Arts?
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Yes/No
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16. Does the
Instructor look healthy and fit?
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Yes/No
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17. Is the Instructor
qualified to teach? Ask to see their qualifications.
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Yes/No
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18. Does the
instructor teach a Martial Art not a martial system. (see definition
below)
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Yes/No
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If you can
answer 12 of the 18 questions yes, the instructor is worth giving a go, if
there is less than 12 yes answers, keep looking for the right instructor.
This is only a guide line, there are many factors which make up a good
instructor, this should help you on the right track to making the correct
decision.
If for some reason one of my
clubs does not suit you, and you are looking at another club, and need help
or clarification on something I would be glad to help out as much as
possible, always trust you internal instincts.
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Martial Art or Martial System.
The martial arts focuses on developing
the individual personally through self exploration, and refining the
students skills to make them a better more balanced person, not just in the
martial arts training but in every day life, balance, focus, disciplined
and respect. The martial arts syllabus and training should contain areas of
technique refinement, self defense, kata, philosophy and history. The
martial art system should also cover areas moral and ethical applications
of the syllabus taught i.e. when and where the techniques can be used.
A martial system is where the syllabus
is focused on teaching the student how to fight, whether its for
competition or street, the focus is on attacking and winning the fight by
points or overcoming your opponents. The primary focus is on winning.
The martial artist is taught to avoid
all confrontations and use their skill as last resort, under no
circumstances should the martial arts be use to intimidate, persuade or
bully any one.
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