swaggerdad Ok parents,If you told someone that you’re going to put your child in martial arts or boxing class, there’s a good chance that you’ll get funny looks. Some people might even call you insane for putting your child in a “violent” environment where they’re punching and kicking other children. Sadly, a lot of people have a warped idea of what combat sports can involve.
But we can’t really blame them. Most combat sports on TV end with one or both combatants on the floor and bloodied. However, not everything in the combat sports world is UFC and there are some underlying benefits of teaching your kids about combat sports from an early age.
1. It’s a great way to get physical exercise
Like any sport, combat sports can be a fantastic way to improve your physical health. For children, this means helping them build a body that is strong and resilient. It’ll also help improve their reflexes and even make them more flexible depending on the combat sport you choose. If you want to promote a healthy wellbeing, then getting involved with sports is one of the best ways to do it.
2. It instils a sense of respect
It might sound corny, but we can’t deny that learning a combat sport can teach your child about respect. It’s not only about respecting their instructor or teacher and listening to them carefully. They can also learn to respect their opponent in a fight, learning to get rid of feelings of complacency and never underestimating anyone.
Photo by Ashima Pargal
3. It’s a surprisingly affordable hobby
Of all the sporting hobbies you can get involved with, combat sports can be surprisingly affordable. Even if you count lessons and equipment from well-known businesses like The Fight Factory, it’s a lot cheaper and more cost-effective than many other sports that kids can get involved with. In fact, you can start training your child and getting them used to combat sports without any equipment. Just holding a pillow up to them is enough to act as a training dummy.
4. It builds confidence in your child
Confidence can come from many different sources. One of the best ways to build your sense of confidence is to achieve new things, master new skills and seek recognition from those that you respect. Doing this can greatly improve your self-esteem and thus give your child a confidence boost in their own ability, but also their social skills and how they interact with others.
Photo by Timothy Eberly
5. It teaches your child about discipline
One of the big benefits of getting your child into combat sports is teaching them all about self-discipline. Combat sports aren’t all about hurting others and defending yourself. In many cases, combat sports can teach us all about self-discipline, the art of improving one step at a time, and even moving away from instant gratification. There are lots of deep skills and concepts that your child can learn if they study under a reputable combat sports instructor or martial artist.
This post was contributed by Mike Events
Cover Photo by Ozan Safak
