Kid’s Martial Arts: Struggling and Challenging

Posted by Luis Till on Jul 15, 2013 in Kids martial arts classes, Kids martial arts classes - Parents point of view | 0 comments

Kid’s martial arts: struggling vs. challenging.

Most people do not enjoy the struggle. Actually, it seems that people avoid a struggle whenever possible. I want to say that struggle is something necessary for growth when it’s viewed as a challenge. I also believe that there is a difference between something viewed as a struggle and something viewed as a challenge. It can get semantic but there is a distinction in many cases. Struggles and challenges occur everywhere in life: at work, in our families relationships with one another, in sports, and even in our most passionate endeavors.

Questions in kid’s martial arts class

Here are some definitions from dictionary.com:

strug·gle verb (used without object)

Coach Amanda coaching kid’s martial arts class

Kid’s Martial Arts are no exception to struggle or challenges…

As a matter of fact, I would venture to say that children engaged in kid’s martial arts classes are subject to just as many challenges and struggles as any child involved in team/school sports. This makes it a microcosm of learning that can prepare the child for all challenges and struggles in life, not just in their kid’s martial arts class. We’ve all heard the cliches that nothing worth having comes easy. I posit that a challenge a struggle is somewhat necessary to go beyond where you have been. I’ll give an example: My daughter is learning Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and when she started she wasn’t timid be she would get beat often and had to learn to tap. This experience is the same for everyone regardless of age when they start BJJ and not just kid’s martial arts. She has been training fairly consistently now and I can see, it’s like I see the wheels in her head churning and problem solving, that she is far more competent and confident because of those early struggles. Sam Harris describes it this way in his article The Pleasures of Drowning:

I can now attest that the experience of grappling with an expert is akin to falling into deep water without knowing how to swim. You will make a furious effort to stay afloat—and you will fail. Once you learn how to swim, however, it becomes difficult to see what the problem is—why can’t a drowning man just relax and tread water?

Kid’s martial arts and the lessons

In the end if we’re to grow, if children are to learn in their kid’s martial arts class or in life, there has to be a challenge and a struggle. I’ve seen my daughter grow and I’ve seen her set an example for her younger brother who also loves watching her in her class as I do. Her kid’s martial arts class offers a safe place for her to be challenged and to see where she struggles and learn from those struggles.

kids in their kid’s martial arts class.

Learning to be comfortable when you’re uncomfortable: kids martial arts classes at SBGi

Posted by admin on Jan 3, 2013 in Kids martial arts classes, Kids martial arts classes - Parents point of view | 0 comments

The last kids martial arts class of 2012

So we’re at the beginning of a new year and everyone is looking forward to an exciting 2013. I noticed at the last kids martial arts class that many were on vacation. We were very happy to be able to go to class and it was very considerate for the coaches to hold it for the kids.

Click here for more info on Kids Martial Arts at SBGi in Portland

I was able to get to the kids martial arts class early because I caught an early bus by accident. It was nice to be out and about a little, it kept things normal for the kids during vacations. The coaches were really great, hanging out with the kids and though the kids focused on playing (a lot) they got some good rolling in. I was a proud father, I have to say, because of the way my child performed in class. It has been a short time but she has learned a lot and retains a lot as well. The kids martial arts classes are so much fun for her that she remembers having fun and what games they played. This has, in turn, revealed some interesting attributes of confidence and humility at the same time.

John Wooden is often quoted saying “Sports don’t build character…they reveal it.”

I try not to be a helicopter parent and interfere with the coaches when she’s in her kids martial arts class. I check in with coaches because I know my daughter and how she can behave. It’s always nice to hear feedback about how I can help her in her kids martial arts class. I’ve talked to coach Amanda, who leads the kids martial arts classes at SBGi, about her progress probably more often than necessary. My daughter really enjoys going to her kids martial arts class and seeing her coaches and classmates.

On the last day of her kids martial arts class for 2012 she was matched with another student who she thought she wasn’t good enough to roll with but coach Craig assured her it was a good idea to try something that might be uncomfortable, that she was safe. She was concerned because he is a higher ranked belt and she had the awareness to know that he had been going to classes longer than her.

After class he reported that she practiced and rolled with her partner a few times in her kids martial arts class. He said that she accepted the challenge but didn’t last very long in the first match. Each successive time he noticed that she would last a little bit longer, learning from the previous match, and he continued to encourage her, coaching her through each successive match. She listened and became more comfortable with her own uncomfortable situation. She did well, learned she could hang with a higher ranked classmate, and had a great time. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that her higher ranked partner was also an amazing leader for her-he didn’t completely overpower her with skill but also did not make it easy in any way. It’s as if he knew that letting her “win” wouldn’t help.

I can understand that there are different ways to run kids martial arts classes and there are technical standards that adhere to levels/ranks; however, there are some amazing things that happen when you have a good group of people. At the SBGi kids martial arts class it’s an open and accepting environment to learn for everyone. The coaches teach kids martial arts class and also teach/participate in adult classes. There are intangibles that are understated because they are simple details that make a huge difference. My daughter exhibited humility, confidence, and courage because she had a good coach, and a good partner, in her class that exhibited humility, confidence, and competence. I imagine that she will continue to grow and learn in her kids martial arts class and it will help her outside of class. She will someday model those for her younger brother and other kids as well.

“Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.” -Henry Ford.

  Click here for more info on Kids Martial Arts at SBGi in Portland