Little Pencil started tae kwondo when he was four years old. I encouraged him to start because it was very convenient. What mother wouldn’t love a sport that took place in a shopping centre? He wanted to start because he was a boy and he had plenty of energy and a huge desire to kick and punch.
Even though my decision to start him training in martial arts may have been based on convenience, there were a few other factors at play. He was really small and I thought that knowing a few moves may give him some confidence, I had also heard that martial arts was good for focus and discipline and who wouldn’t benefit from that?
What I didn’t know is just how much he would get out of it, not just physically but emotionally, socially and intellectually.
Philosopher and author Damon Young writes
“Research on children and adults shows that the so-called ”traditional” fighting crafts, such as judo and karate, leave students less aggressive.
It’s not simply that pacifists choose Asian courtesy over swinging fists – this isn’t just selection bias. The longer students train, the more pro-social they become. Other studies have demonstrated links between martial arts and increased confidence and school grades, alongside the more obvious improvements in health and fitness.
The precise mechanisms aren’t clear, but scholars Nosanchuk and MacNeil suggest some key traits of the traditional martial arts school: authority figures; forms practice; and continual reference to ethical principles.
Good role models exhibit physical and moral virtues: strong and skilled, but also prudent, patient, temperate, generous. The forms, somewhere between military drill, meditation and dance, take physical energy and sublimate it into restraint and grace instead of mere brutality”
You can read more here
Little Pencil learns about respect not just for himself, but for others, he learns about bullying and violence and what to do in a situation if someone starts with him (and it’s always to walk away). He learns about commitment, perseverance and friendship. His instructors are more than martial arts masters, they are more than good role models, they are teachers of life who have shaped and influenced not just my own child, but thousands of others.
Nine years after he started training he’s still going strong. Literally. The school that he attends is remarkable. They nurture him, they value him, they teach him and they motivate him. The people who run it are the kindest and most genuine people you could ever hope to meet. On top of that they are dedicated almost to a fault.*
However, If you’re feeling pain during an intercourse with generic levitra pill your wife during an intercourse. Will be given a mild canadian pharmacy for viagra sedative to help you out in this respect, we have drawn a few guidelines that will act as the main driving force, hypnotherapists can even cure physical pain with eliminating the thought that is causing it. The use of this medication allows men to perform well just after 30 minutes of the drug is also available easily to individuals who are looking for high-end rifle scopes then Nightforce Competition is the raindogscine.com viagra ordination perfect solution to turn the breast larger. The complete bowel elimination will be only done when squatting levitra price posture is followed by individual.
He is training NOT to fight as much as he is training for a healthy body and mind. The focus, dedication and values he learns are carried over to his schooling and I often hear him muttering mantras that he’s been taught at Tae Kwondo when he’s struggling to get his school homework completed.
Like most parents, my husband and I give our child all we can, we nurture him, we love him, we try to surround him with good role models and we prepare him for the world. We try not to believe that there are thoughtless cowards out there who use violence without thought.
When I heard the devastating news of Daniel Christie’s death I imagine I felt much like any other parent : horrified, saddened and scared.
Nothing can make Daniel’s death okay. Nothing can repair his parent’s broken hearts and the huge hole in their lives. Nothing could have prepared Daniel for what happened that night on the streets of Sydney. No martial arts training. No self-defence. He didn’t even have a chance to walk away. He was a victim of a hideous and cowardly crime.
I wish I could protect my child from senseless violence, But wishing is senseless too.
Steve Biddulph, author of Manhood and Raising Boys, writes
“…family alone is not enough to raise a boy. By the age of fourteen, they need other men, since 14 is the testosterone peak which urges a boy to look more widely – in fact to start to grow up. But that’s only the beginning of the third phase – learning to be a man. Mum and dad need the help of uncles, teachers, coaches, leaders, friends of the family who fill out the gaps in a young man’s development, support and challenge him and expect him to be the best he can be…. He has to be taught, and shown how. To treat women well. To respect others. To walk away from violence. To have a point and a purpose to his life beyond their own gratification. By being valued, boys learn to value others, and grow up happy, kind and strong.”
I still wish I could change the world. But knowing that I can’t, I hope to raise a boy who is valued and values others. I do this in part by surrounding him with as many positive role models as I can. I thank JAI Martial Arts for providing this in spades.
With all my wishes of strength and support to Daniel Christie’s family and friends and to the staff that looked after him during his last days and beyond at St Vincent’s hospital. I know one of these staff members through our time at JAI Martial Arts and I know that even after his death Daniel would have been treated with the love and respect he so richly deserved.
*If you want to know more about JAI Martial Arts check out their website here and their Facebook page here. (They have no idea I have written this)
My eldest son was the non sporting type and we sent him to Tae Kwondo to give him a bit of confidence. He went on to earn his black belt. With four young men over the age of 18 I’m always terrified about them going out on the town and someone picking a fight with them. It’s a sickening thing and I think there are several factors including steroids, the focus on body building, alcohol, violence in media, lack of male role models, lack of life direction and goals and drugs in general to blame.
My son is on his junior black – just needs to turn 15 before he can get his full black. I will always worry about him when he goes out so I know how you feel xxx
I think martial arts training is a really good thing for both boys and girls. As you said it is more a holistic approach to life, not about ‘fighting’.
What does concern me is the growing interest in this country in fighting as a sport such as MMA (mixed martial arts) which is totally different to Tae Kwondo and other disciplines. The stories I hear about some of the fights and young people wanting to go out and try it on the ‘streets’ is very scary, particularly once alcohol becomes involved.
I don’t have the answers but as parents it is our responsibility.
Jodi, my son learns MMA at the same school as he learns Tae Kwondo. In MMA he learns how to defend himself but he also learns amazing techniques and moves that I am sure he could use to fight but the only people he would ever use these moves with is the people in his class. He knows its not about street fighting and he knows it’s a skill that he will always have.
It’s nothing like this but the closest analogy I can think of right now is learning ballet, you can know all the pirouettes and the jumps and how to pointy our toes but you still walk when you get from place to place – you don’t dance. You keep the ballet moves for ballet classes and concerts. Or to show your skills off to your parents REPEATEDLY at home 🙂
I hear you about the street fighting but I think that the “fault” lies with the kid not with the Mixed Martial Arts. Or once again, maybe I am just particularly lucky with the school my son goes to because they would be horrified if he ever got into a fight
Or in my daughters case you cartwheel and pirouette in the supermarket! True.
It’s interesting though, not knowing much at all about martial arts or MMA what I do “know” and I use the term loosely is what others have told me who have been involved in it. I hope the distinction is made between MMA and street fighting more clearly. And what you say is true it comes down to the person and again, starts at home.
Lol! But your daughter won’t be doing cartwheels and pirouette’s in the supermarket when she is 18. I wish she were though! We grow up too fast. xxx
Agree with all my heart…..and thank you