New school year. New teachers. New routines. New challenges. September is a month of fresh starts, and while children are settling back into classrooms, it can also be the perfect opportunity to try something completely new outside of school. Martial Arts could be just that.
Whether it’s Karate, Judo, Taekwondo, Kickboxing or another discipline, Martial Arts gives children an opportunity to get active, meet new people, learn new skills and build confidence, all while having something to look forward to each week.
If you’ve been considering finding a local Martial Arts club for your child, here are a few reasons why September could be the perfect time to give it a go.
1. Start the New School Year with a Routine
After weeks of summer holidays, getting back into a routine can take a little adjustment.
A regular Martial Arts class can provide some extra structure to the week. Having a set training day gives children something familiar to work towards and can help establish a healthy balance between school, homework, relaxation and activities. And unlike another hour spent looking at a screen, it’s a reason to get up, get moving and do something different.
2. Build Confidence One Class at a Time
Starting a new school year can be exciting but, it can also bring new challenges. Perhaps your child has moved into a new class, started a new school or is simply becoming a little more independent. Martial Arts provides plenty of opportunities to develop confidence.
Learning a new technique, remembering a sequence, demonstrating something in front of the class or eventually achieving a new belt can all give children a sense of progress. They don’t have to be the fastest, strongest or most athletic person in the room. They just have to be willing to learn. Those little achievements can soon start adding up.
3. Learn Discipline That Goes Beyond the Dojo
Discipline is a big part of Martial Arts but, it isn’t simply about standing still and following instructions. Students learn to listen, practice, be patient and keep trying when something doesn’t work the first time. A technique may take dozens of attempts to understand. A grading requires preparation. Progress takes consistency.
Martial Arts teaches children that improvement doesn’t always happen instantly and that’s a valuable lesson both inside and outside the dojo.
4. Swap Screen Time for Active Time
School days can involve a lot of sitting down, and once children get home, phones, tablets, televisions and games can quickly take over. Martial Arts offers a very different kind of activity.
Classes can involve movement, coordination, balance, technique, partner work and fitness exercises, giving children a fun way to be physically active. Rather than exercise feeling like a chore, they’re concentrating on learning a kick, perfecting a throw or remembering their next technique. They’re exercising but, they’re also developing a skill.
5. Make New Friends Outside of School
One of the nicest things about joining a Martial Arts club is becoming part of a new community. Children can train alongside people they wouldn’t normally meet at school, often including different ages, abilities and experience levels. They practice together, help one another and celebrate each other’s progress.
For children who may be a little shy, having a shared activity can also make starting conversations easier. There’s already something everyone in the room has in common. And sometimes the friendships formed in the dojo can become just as important as the Martial Arts itself.
6. Give Them Something That’s Theirs
School naturally takes up a huge part of a child’s week which, makes having interests outside of it important too. A Martial Arts club can become somewhere completely separate from lessons, homework and school pressures.
It’s their class. Their instructor. Their techniques to master. Their belt to work towards. Their achievements.
For some children, that weekly session becomes one of the things they look forward to most.
7. There’s Always Another Goal
One of the things that keeps Martial Arts interesting is that there’s always something new to learn. At first, simply remembering a stance or technique might feel like an achievement. Later, the goal could be earning the next belt, improving a kata, mastering a throw or preparing for a competition. Progress is visible. That can be incredibly motivating for children because they can see how regular practice leads to improvement. And, of course, there’s something particularly exciting about being handed that next belt after working hard for it!
8. You Don’t Need Any Experience to Begin
One concern parents sometimes have is whether their child has left it too late to start. They haven’t.
Every black belt once walked into their first Martial Arts class knowing very little about what they were doing. Beginners aren’t expected to arrive knowing how to kick, punch, throw, block, bow correctly or tie a Martial Arts belt. That’s what classes are there to teach.
A good club will introduce skills gradually and help new students learn at an appropriate pace. The hardest part can simply be walking through the door for that first session.
Finding the Right Martial Arts Club
If your child is interested, have a look at the clubs available in your local area.
Different Martial Arts offer different experiences, and individual clubs have their own atmosphere and teaching styles. Many clubs offer beginner or trial sessions which, can be a great opportunity to meet the instructor, see the training environment and find out whether your child enjoys it.
Don’t worry too much about choosing the ‘perfect’ Martial Art immediately. Finding an encouraging instructor and a club where your child feels comfortable, engaged and excited to return can be far more important.
What Will They Need?
For a first lesson, always ask the club what your child should wear and bring. Many clubs won’t expect a complete uniform and equipment straight away. Once they’re ready for their own kit, requirements will depend on the Martial Art and club.
This could include:
- A Gi or Martial Arts uniform
- Belt
- Training trousers or clothing
- Boxing or Kickboxing gloves
- Karate mitts
- Shin and foot guards
- Head guard
- Mouth guard
- Other discipline-specific protective equipment
Your instructor should be able to tell you exactly what’s required before you buy anything.
At Blitz, you’ll find Martial Arts clothing, protective equipment and training essentials for beginners through to experienced Martial Artists, covering disciplines including Karate, Judo, Taekwondo, Kickboxing, Boxing and many more.
Could This September Be the Start of Something?
September is all about beginnings. A new school year. A new routine. A new class. So perhaps it’s also the month to try a new Martial Art.
Your child might walk into their first session feeling nervous and unsure of what to expect. A few months later, they could be showing you their favourite technique, talking about the friends they’ve made or proudly working towards their next belt.
And who knows? That first September class could be the beginning of a hobby they enjoy for many years to come. New school year. New challenge. New journey.
Find a local Martial Arts club and give it a go this September.
