Kid"s Martial Arts - Flow in Action
As you can imagine, we get asked A LOT about the various benefits of our kid's martial arts programs.
Usually people talk about confidence, fitness, and self defense benefits.
These benefits are absolutely fantastic, and any legitimate kid's martial arts program focuses on them for sure.
There are other amazing benefits that kid's programs (IE: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, self defense, etc...
).
One of these is often tied to "relaxation," and the "promotion of 'good' behavior.
" Parents often report that their children act more "behaved", sleep more soundly, and experience a new degree of zest in their day to day lives.
Much of this is due to a sense of "flow" that kid's experience during martial arts practice.
"Flow" is a state of concentrated focus where you loose track of self-awareness and just seem to merge with the activity - emerging from the experience with a sense "wow" and new personal growth.
I'll bet that many of you parents out there have experienced this "flow" state at work, or doing your favorite hobby.
The reason many children develop a firm sense of dedication and stick with martial arts over the long term is because martial arts is often their first real sense of "flow.
" The eagerness to learn in combination with fun participation with peers in a non-competitive environment is very "flow"-promoting.
Obviously some children will be interested in the competitive aspect of the martial arts themselves, and for some children that's exactly what they want most.
I've had some parents tell me that they weren't sure if competition was healthy for their young martial artist - but I always encourage them to let a child try competition if they express interest in it themselves.
This can often be even more of an opportunity to learn.
Children with ADHD seem to calm down, having a sense of calm from their flow experiences - in addition to the usefulness of the positive outlet for their energy.
This is important because it keeps kids coming back for more, for INTRINSIC reasons.
Many schools emphasize "the next belt" as the shiny new goal for each child to reach.
This kind of mentality does not focus on personal growth and development, but on external signs of development.
Though I believe a program should show kids their progress through belt levels, I also believe that internal motivation for developing themselves into good people is a greater benefit than the next color belt - and should be recognized as such in a kid's martial arts program.
Usually people talk about confidence, fitness, and self defense benefits.
These benefits are absolutely fantastic, and any legitimate kid's martial arts program focuses on them for sure.
There are other amazing benefits that kid's programs (IE: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, self defense, etc...
).
One of these is often tied to "relaxation," and the "promotion of 'good' behavior.
" Parents often report that their children act more "behaved", sleep more soundly, and experience a new degree of zest in their day to day lives.
Much of this is due to a sense of "flow" that kid's experience during martial arts practice.
"Flow" is a state of concentrated focus where you loose track of self-awareness and just seem to merge with the activity - emerging from the experience with a sense "wow" and new personal growth.
I'll bet that many of you parents out there have experienced this "flow" state at work, or doing your favorite hobby.
The reason many children develop a firm sense of dedication and stick with martial arts over the long term is because martial arts is often their first real sense of "flow.
" The eagerness to learn in combination with fun participation with peers in a non-competitive environment is very "flow"-promoting.
Obviously some children will be interested in the competitive aspect of the martial arts themselves, and for some children that's exactly what they want most.
I've had some parents tell me that they weren't sure if competition was healthy for their young martial artist - but I always encourage them to let a child try competition if they express interest in it themselves.
This can often be even more of an opportunity to learn.
Children with ADHD seem to calm down, having a sense of calm from their flow experiences - in addition to the usefulness of the positive outlet for their energy.
This is important because it keeps kids coming back for more, for INTRINSIC reasons.
Many schools emphasize "the next belt" as the shiny new goal for each child to reach.
This kind of mentality does not focus on personal growth and development, but on external signs of development.
Though I believe a program should show kids their progress through belt levels, I also believe that internal motivation for developing themselves into good people is a greater benefit than the next color belt - and should be recognized as such in a kid's martial arts program.
Source...