Extramural

Let the kids watch a karate movie and out come the flying kicks, chops and uppercuts. You may wonder what benefits karate has to offer your child. There is a lot more to karate classes than just self defence. It’s one extramural activity which has much to offer in terms of physical fitness but also stimulates mental and emotional development.

On the physical side, karate classes will improve your child’s balance, posture and co-ordination. Techniques which help to build strength and endurance are taught and perfected and with that comes better flexibility and improved gross motor skills.

The measure of self-discipline, self control and goal-setting needed to achieve and perfect certain techniques in karate will benefit your child greatly on an emotional level. These may well filter through into his everyday life and help to improve his school work for better grades.

Karate classes are great for building confidence in a shy child or improving self esteem in a child who perhaps isn’t interested in pursuing team sports. Karate classes teach kids how to focus and this can greatly benefit a child who is struggling with concentration problems at school. Other enrichment programmes like the benefits of a healthy diet, good manners and respect for one’s elders are taught within the karate lesson structure.

Karate is also good for social bonding and gives kids the tools they need to stand up to peer pressure – not the physical tools, but the emotional ones that come from a good self esteem and ability to feel comfortable in one’s own skin. Karate and other martial arts disciplines do not encourage violence but rather equip kids with the skills needed to deal with conflict in a healthy manner - and to find resolutions without having to resort to violence. Classes are great for boys and girls.