The Top 7 Benefits of Martial Arts for Kids

Long regarded as an activity that promotes strength, discipline and focus, Martial Arts has seen a recent surge in popularity thanks to the Cobra Kai and Karate Kid franchises inspiring the next generation of ‘Karate Kids’ to start classes.

Aside from the well-known benefits of Martial Arts for kids, did you know that karate is also one of the best confidence building activities for children too?

In this article, you’ll learn how martial arts can help children with:

• Confidence building
• Physical fitness
• Discipline and respect
• Self-defence and anti-bullying
• Resilience and life habits
• Focus and academic support
• Social development and teamwork

With many different styles of martial arts classes available for children, GKR Karate leads the way with flexible training options to suit your circumstances, qualified and passionate instructors and with the added benefit of being an established international club.

If you are wondering why children should learn karate, here are the top 7 benefits of Martial Arts for kids.

Benefit 1: Confidence Building

Most Martial Arts have a belt or grading system which allows students to set tangible goals to work towards and in turn, build confidence and gain a sense of accomplishment as each new level is achieved. New belts or grade levels can be likened to playing a computer game – as each new level is unlocked or achieved, the player’s confidence and skill level increases.

When children learn self-defence skills and gain strength and coordination, they also receive a boost to their confidence making them less likely to be a target of bullying or aggressive behaviour.

In a recent study, it was found that youth with higher levels of resilience are less likely to engage in aggressive behaviours or be victims of bullying. Karate, is a martial art that emphasises respect, self-regulation and health promotion, and may be an effective alternative to the anti-bullying approach of institutions.

Consistent training in karate also improves your child’s balance and posture, sharpening their reflexes and their concentration. Along with this, the increase in strength, coordination, self-defence skills and sense of accomplishment as they progress through the grade levels, you will see how karate dramatically boosts your child’s confidence, sense of calm and reduces stress.

Benefit 2: Physical Fitness & Coordination

NHS guidelines recommend children participate in at least 60 minutes of moderate or vigorous intensity physical activity a day across the week, suggesting a mix of cardio and exercises that strengthen muscles and bones for the best outcome. Martial Arts provides the opportunity for students to work their cardiovascular system while also strengthening their muscles and bones through various movements and activities.

With only 44.6% of 5-16 year olds meeting England’s Chief Medical Officer’s physical activity guidelines, karate offers the perfect opportunity for kids to get active while also teaching them valuable self-defence and life skills.  Martial Arts also provides students the opportunity to develop coordination and fitness at their own pace without the pressure of a team sport environment.

Benefit 3: Respect & Discipline

GKR Karate offers a respectful and positive training environment for all students. This includes promoting strong values and ethics which are grounded in tolerance, self-control, humility, and patience. Children who are aggressive or struggle to control their emotions, gradually scale down this behaviour as they embrace the values and teachings of a quality martial art.

Whilst all martial arts styles teach self-defence in one form or another, GKR Karate places equal importance on the self-development of the student. The goal here is to see self-defence and self-development grow in accord with each other so that karate training can help your child become the best version of themself.

Benefit 4: Anti-Bullying & Self-Defence

According to anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk,  1 in 4 pupils in the UK reported that they were bullied a lot or always in the weeks preceding the study, with actual violence being more likely to take place at school compared to other forms of bullying, leading to a poor school experience for students.

More than just ‘another sport’, karate offers vital life skills where students learn how to protect themselves by building both physical and emotional strength. When children (or adults) become more competent at defending themselves physically, we see the positive flow-on effect to other parts of their lives.  With the ability to navigate difficult tasks with greater confidence; karate students can present a more self-assured or assertive demeanour when called for and become less likely to bully others or be the target of bullying. Learning a martial art is good way to strengthen physical and mental health for kids, whilst also equipping them with practical life skills.

With bullying causing a high incidence of anxiety (44%) and depression (36%) in the 12-20 year age group (statista.com), learning a martial art should be considered as high a priority as learning to swim for all young people regardless of age.

Benefit 5: Lifelong Habits & Resilience

Knowing how to protect yourself from physical harm is important, but psychological and emotional resilience is vital, particularly for children and young adults. As part of our training, we regularly rehearse hypothetical threat scenarios in a safe and encouraging way, improving the student’s overall ability to problem solve and perform well under challenging circumstances.

Karate and Martial Arts also instils self-discipline in its participants which carries across to life outside of the dojo.  The sense of community and respect for others are an important part of the teachings of martial art and are values that are then evident in home, school and social settings.  We see and hear this from parents of our students and believe that the discipline required to exhibit patience, control, humility and respect in class are skills that will stay with children throughout their life.

Benefit 6: Mental Focus & Academic Support

If you are looking for after-school sports for your child, karate is a great option as it is one of the best activities to improve focus and self-discipline in children.

There have been many studies undertaken that highlight the benefits of karate and the positive flow on effects for children in a school or learning environment who participate consistently in Martial Arts classes.

Regular martial arts training assists in improving cognitive skills, focus, resilience and improved learning outcomes for children as highlighted by study participants.

In the study ‘Effect of a school-based karate intervention on academic achievement, psychosocial functioning, and physical fitness’, compared with traditional physical education lessons, a 1-year karate intervention performed during physical education lessons improved academic achievement and reduced conduct problems in children aged 7-8 years from 5 different European countries.

Another study also showed that martial arts could be more conducive to cognitive improvement than physical exercise that requires no cognitive skills and that performing interventions in the earlier stages of childhood may improve the regulation of neural networks involved in cognitive control.

Benefit 7: Social Development & Teamwork

When practising a martial art, children have opportunity to do training drills and sparring with other students in their class, encouraging them to develop social skills and work with others to achieve a common goal.  If a child participates in karate tournaments, this extends their skills to also learn about good sportsmanship, winning and losing gracefully, reward for effort and breaking self-imposed beliefs and limitations by pushing themselves outside of their comfort zone  – all of which transfer across to other areas of life.

Backed by Experience: GKR Karate’s Perspective

GKR Karate is an international karate club with more than 40 years experience in the martial arts industry. With more than 40,000 students attending in-person classes across the UK, Australia and New Zealand and the GKR Online Karate and Fitness Academy accessible to students across the globe, GKR Karate has stood the test of time by embodying its founder, Kancho Robert Sullivan’s vision of ‘karate for everyone’.

As a club, GKR has witnessed countless success stories of how karate can change people’s lives for the better.  From increased confidence, focus, or health improvements to name a few, read about the inspiring stories on the GKR Stories platform – a page committed to sharing stories from everyday people benefitting from karate and doing extraordinary things in life.

Find a GKR Karate class near you by clicking here, and experience the benefits of martial arts for you and your family today.