14/05/2025
Are you serious?? You bet your life I am!!
JUNIOR MARTIAL ARTS
It’s a sad fact over the last 2 to 3 decades that many clubs and organisations have watered down (Karate) and Martial Arts in general to such an extent that it has reached and indeed is viewed by society on the same level as all the other hobbies and past times. Such as football, tennis, dance, gymnastics and the like..
But this could not be further from the truth. Martial Arts is an “art “a science - a life skill. And should be treated as such.
The level of commitment to attend sporting hobbies such as football or dance is not comparable to that of Martial Arts. The commitment required is very very different, but then again so are the benefits.
The skill required to score a penalty in a game of football. It’s not comparable to the skills obtained through Martial Arts, in which one brings a joyful result, and the other saves a life. Yes, it’s that serious. And should be taken so.
This is in no way an attempt to belittle the importance, enjoyment or skill of being proficient in a sport, but to explain how much higher a level of reward the latter is compared to the first.
Everything has its merits, but some things merits are simply far greater and the knowledge and skill obtained in these are priceless.
As I’ve said many times before, Martial Arts should not be an “either or” subject, where a choice is made between attending football or (Karate) – or attending tennis or karate….
But rather which of your hobbies and past times you wish to attend alongside Karate – as well as (Karate).
That’s how important it is .
We already know the phrase that not everything worth having is easy, but I’ll also add not everything worth having that’s important is always fun.
We do try and make our junior classes as fun as possible, but fun was never the reason. It was or never had been about enjoyment, it’s about providing invaluable tools that will accompany you for the rest of your life. And it’s a serious matter.
So if we work so hard to disguise the repetition And add lots of extra fun this is due to a lot of hard work on our part and a lot of effort and free time given up by the instructors.
Just to give you an idea, our junior classes never had a game period, for all the years I’ve been teaching they never had a game period. This was introduced as an extra fun element, because our students train very physically and mentally hard during our junior sessions, something that you generally will not find anywhere else within this age group.
We push our students to learn realistic effective Self defence applications, and because they study so hard we reward them with some playtime at the end. This was added as a reward. But it’s something that we never did because Martial Arts should be the reward itself. Yes, that sounds harsh but it’s true.
So all I ask is the next time you sit there wondering if you can justify the time for your kids to train in a Martial art, ask yourself if you can really justify NOT finding the time.
Kids will want to come and go MORE THAN ONCE because things are hard, However you must … And I repeat you must stand firm and push them through these periods.
I see many parents that become very tough and very demanding when it comes to schoolwork and exams, and rightly so. Because you can see the importance of what these results and these skills that they acquire through school, will do for their future life. However, I often see the exact opposite when it comes to martial art training? Letting kids give up for a multitude of silly reasons that would not be accepted in any other scenario
Life-saving skills and that your child can have a confident and safe peaceful life dimply doesn’t seem to hold the same importance?
Maybe it’s because the thought being in real danger is always unrealistic until it actually happens.
But We have taught many people over the years that have ended up having to use their skills at various ages and every single one of them have told us how effective it had worked. And how lucky they thought they were to have those skills when called upon.
So please take my advice.
Your child should train Martial Arts as often as possible and for as long as possible (it should actually be a life long journey) and in addition to this they should learn to swim, not only swim but swim very very well, in fact swim to the extent that they could save their own life if dropped into water in full clothing.
These are the two most important skills any person should ever possess. Because missing a penalty in football is frustrating…. drowning or being attacked and left maimed or worse is a dam sight more than just disappointing
tha could possibly be the end.
Have a great day.
See you on the mats.
Andy Bennett
Chief instructor
Bushido Kai Martial arts
