10 Key Benefits of Jiu-Jitsu for Kids
OverviewIn a culture that seems to prioritize video games and cartoons over physical activity, it can be difficult to motivate your child to put down the remote control and do something fitness-related. Here are 10 reasons why enrolling them in Jiu-Jitsu will be beneficial and why they’ll love it too!
1. Builds confidence:
With every new move or skill your child masters, you will instantly see an increase in their overall confidence. Achieving the goals they set out for themselves and receiving recognition for that increases children’s self-esteem and the way they view themselves.
2. Promotes physical activity:
It’s pretty apparent that we live in a technology-focused society and this makes it difficult to pull kids away from the television screen in order to get them to do something physical. By enrolling them in an activity that they enjoy doing, they’ll be much more likely to stick with it and be more active overall.
3. Teaches self-discipline:
Nowadays, people are so used to receiving instant gratification that it takes a lot of restraint and self-discipline to put in the time and work to achieve a long-term goal. By having something to strive for, such as a new ranking or mastering a new skill, kids are much more likely to dedicate the time and energy needed to achieve that goal.
4. Learn self-defense:
Having the ability to defend yourself if you are ever placed in a potential dangerous situation can be an empowering feeling. While most disciplines focus on peaceful conflict resolution, they also give children valuable tools to defend themselves should they ever need to.
5. Sharpens mind and increases focus:
A common challenge for many parents is getting your child to focus on one task at a time since there are so many things that can easily distract them. In order to truly master a skill, it takes a lot of mental energy, focus, and listening to your body. Luckily, this is another trait that they can take from the class and apply to their everyday lives.
6. Encourages conflict resolution:
It’s a common misconception that learning martial arts promotes physical confrontation. In fact, most people who actually practice the sports will tell you the exact opposite. Martial arts and other combat sports promote a mind-body connection and peaceful approach to conflicts by addressing the heart of the issue at hand.
7. Instills a sense of respect:
Okay, so we’ve probably all seen our fair share of martial arts or boxing based movies. One thing that is evident from all of these movies is the student’s respect and willingness to learn from their teacher. The only way to thrive and grow in any of these disciplines is to listen to and learn from those who are more experienced than you are.
8. Boosts social skills:
It’s always easier to make a new friend when you share a common interest with the other person. By working together and practicing skills to achieve a mutual goal, it creates a bond that’s difficult to achieve in any other environment. In Jiu Jitsu, students are often paired together to practice their movements and doing this fosters a sense of camaraderie.
9. Teaches perseverance:
Life can be tough and sometimes it doesn’t always go the way we want it to. One of the best things we can learn in life is how to roll with the punches (literally and figuratively) and how to get right back up if we get knocked down. In martial arts and combat sports, just like in life, you’ll get knocked down a lot and take some hits, but it’s how you get back up that determines how successful you’ll be.
10. Enhances listening skills and retention:
A lot of the movements in any combat sport can be complicated and take a lot of work to remember and properly execute. By utilizing drills that reinforce the movements, your child will build their memory and be able to better retain a myriad of information.
