Planning extracurricular activities for your child

The beginning of the school year also means you will be enrolling your kids in extracurricular activities. If you want your child to be physically active, a sport is probably at the top of your list. But which ones do you choose? With so many out there, you and your child might be taking a stab in the dark. Instead of going with popular team sports, like baseball or soccer, consider martial arts. Here are just a few reasons why a martial sport can benefit your child:

Goal setting
Learning to set and work toward goals are important skills everyone needs. At a young age, your kids are probably just starting to learn how to do this, and discovering the ability can help them succeed in school. Martial arts can help your kids create and achieve goals. 

Martial arts feature belts, which students are awarded after learning certain skill sets. As such, they have goals built right into the curriculum. In addition to that, the instructor can help your student create his or her own goals, such as being able to reach his or her toes when stretching or being able to kick higher than his or her belly button.

Goals will become a normal part of your kids' lives, so they'll be able to create academic ones during the school year, too.

Year-round learning
Team sports only take place during certain seasons, meaning your kids will be busy and active during certain times and sedentary during others. Martial arts, on the other hand, are practiced year round. Your child can start this fall and continue as long as he or she wants. This ensures your children are fit and healthy constantly. What's more, it provides activity during holidays – in fact, many martial arts schools create summer camps so kids have something to do when they're out of school and their parents are at work.

Individual development
Team sports require kids to work together. This, of course, is an important skill to have, but it means that certain children struggle to keep up. Kids who may be new to a team sport might slow their team down. Experienced kids could get frustrated with less-seasoned ones. Martial arts, on the other hand, encourage individual development. Kids are competing against themselves, constantly striving to improve. Your child doesn't have to keep up with his or her peers and can just focus on individual goals. This has another byproduct: building self-confidence.

Self-awareness
Most martial arts classes have a mix of age groups, so your child might be paired with kids a few years older or younger than he or she is. This helps everyone in the class gain more self-awareness. Your kids will see that they can achieve difficult goals the way the older kids can. It'll also show that younger children can do great things. What's more, most classes are coed, allowing kids to gain respect for girls and boys alike.

Finally, by making mistakes and overcoming obstacles, your kids will learn what they're own strengths and weaknesses are – they'll learn to be reflective.

With so many positive benefits, it's easy to see why martial arts can be a great alternative to team sports.

Ready to enroll today?  Visit www.sulphurspringsata.com or call 903-243-8767 and get your first month for only $49 with a FREE uniform included and No Long-Term Contracts!

Originally published at https://kicksite.net/newsletters/value-of-martial-arts/planning-extracurricular-activities-for-your-child

Martial arts and anxiety

Martial arts and anxiety

Most people experience anxiety at some point or another. Whether it's planning a big event, preparing for an upcoming interview or simply going through a busy couple of weeks, we all find ourselves on edge once in a while. But what do you do if you or your children constantly experience stress? Talking to a doctor is a good first step, but martial arts can help from there.

Anxious adults
Not all adults with chronic anxiety issues realize they have a problem. Many people attribute their stress to outside circumstances or convince themselves they simply haven't had sufficient time to decompress. This may in fact be the case – however, if you find your stress levels are high no matter how much relaxation time you set aside, there may be a bigger issue.
Anxiety disorders can have more than just emotional affects. Poor sleep, twitching muscles, and frequent colds or viruses can also indicate you're overstressed. When these go on for weeks or months at a time, it's worth asking your doctor for advice.

What does child anxiety look like?
Because children haven't yet developed the tools to handle difficult emotions – or in some cases, the language to describe them – anxiety can be hard to spot. For kids, anxiety can look like poor impulse control, dropping grades or disruptive behavior. It can also easily be misread as normal shyness. This means that it can be difficult to even recognize a problem, much less work to address it.
If you're concerned your child might struggle with chronic anxiety, there are ways to help. Encourage your children to express their feelings in healthy, productive ways. One such activity that works well for children and adults is martial arts.

How martial arts helps
The simplest and most straightforward way martial arts practice can help those with anxiety is giving them a physical outlet. Chronic stress often results in a lot of pent-up energy and emotion, which can burst out in the form of panic attacks, breakdowns or even aggression. An activity like martial arts calls for big bursts of explosive energy, making it the perfect way to work out that lingering tension. Physical exercise also encourages endorphin production, which directly improves your mood, and the energy burnt while working out can make it easier to sleep come bedtime.

While martial arts' explosive aspects make it a particularly good workout for anxious people, its biggest benefits are psychological. No matter what kind of martial art you pursue, discipline and self-trust are going to be a huge focus. All martial arts philosophies are built on learning how to rely on your instincts and make quick, confident decisions. People who are constantly stressed about work, school or other parts of their lives can bring this practice with them outside of the classroom.
Anxiety can have a serious impact on one's mental and physical health. However, healthy outlets like martial arts can help chronically anxious children and adults work out their worries in a healthy, productive way.

See how we can help your family.  Visit www.sulphurspringsata.com or call 903-243-8767 to enroll today!

Originally published at KickSite Mat Chat https://kicksite.net/newsletters/value-of-martial-arts/martial-arts-and-anxiety

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Helping children with ADHD could be as easy as enrolling them in Tae Kwon Do classes

Some parents will try anything to help their child who is suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, looking for a cure for the condition that can affect the development of their son or daughter. One common method that is believed to treat ADHD is computer-based training programs that can stimulate cognitive functions. While these initiatives have been found to allow children to work on their short-term memory, psychology professor Mark Rapport and his team of researchers at University of Central Florida found that these computer-based training programs are not proven to treat kids with ADHD.

"Parents are desperate for help," said Rapport, who runs the Children's Learning Clinic IV at UCF. "If they can afford it, they are willing to spend the money, and some parents even enroll their children in private schools because they offer these cognitive training programs. But there is no empirical evidence to show those investments are worthwhile."

The programs don't improve working memory
One of the biggest problems faced by children with ADHD is their working memory suffers greatly. Kids with a strong working memory are usually solid performers in school, well-behaved and easy to get along with. After Rapport and his team analyzed data from 25 studies on the matter, they concluded that computer-based training programs do not create opportunities for long-term cognitive improvements.

Rapport doesn't discount the value of the learning systems, but he does imply that parents should save their money if they are hoping these computer-based training programs will help cure their son or daughter of ADHD. Perhaps enrolling children in Tae Kwon Do training classes is a better investment.

Turn extra energy into positive energy
Many children who suffer from ADHD are constantly bouncing off the walls, which is exactly why it may be a good idea for their parents to get them involved in Tae Kwon Do. Training and learning the techniques of the martial arts gives kids an opportunity to channel their extra energy into focus to quickly develop an understanding of the tenets of Tae Kwon Do.

Instructors often express to their students that they need to have a strong mind before a strong body. Children will have to learn how to train their minds to succeed in Tae Kwon Do and the development of their skills will begin to take care of itself. Considering Tae Kwon Do as a way to help children with ADHD can be a solid alternative to medicating them or making them complete computer-based training programs that don't have the same results.

See how we can help your child with ADHD.  Call 903-243-8767 or visit www.sulphurspringsata.com to start today!

Originally published at KickSite Mat Chat newslietter March 2013

Martial arts training aids children with ADHD

Attending martial arts class is about more than getting a workout and learning self-defense tactics. Each student can get something different out of his or her experience, but training can be especially rewarding for children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Martial arts teacher Rodger Pyle knows this diagnosed with ADHD as a child, he told ADDitude magazine.

firsthand as he was

Pyle struggled as a child because his public school didn’t know how to deal with his condition, and it wasn’t until he found martial arts that he was able to overcome some of his mental hurdles. Now he uses his experience to help children with the disorder. After all, many studies show complex physical activity, like martial arts, helps students strengthen neural networks in the brain and learn how to control their impulses.

“My job is to look beyond a student’s diagnosis and find ways to motivate him while playing up his strengths,” Pyle told the magazine.

Martial arts helps children with ADHD find direction
Suffering through ADHD himself has allowed Pyle to feel rewarded as his students take steps to build their mental strength. Martial arts can be critical in the development of children as it helps them learn life lessons that they can carry with them after their time at the school is over. Here are some of the benefits that students with ADHD are able to take away from martial arts training:

• Improved ability to communicate: Not only does martial arts require students to work together on their craft, but it also teaches respect. This can be worthwhile for children with ADHD because they can often lack the patience necessary to get along with others. Learning how to work together in a team environment is a timeless skill.
• Higher self esteem: Children with knowledge of their disorder may feel embarrassed or have low self esteem. With martial arts training, students can get a sense of achievement as they move up the ranks. This will help with their self-confidence outside the school.
• Better self-discipline: Martial arts students must learn to control their brains before they can be successful in class. While this can be an especially difficult challenge for those with ADHD, learning self-discipline will help children start a path to coping with their disorder.

Learn how we can help support your child with ADD/ADHD.  Get your first month of martial arts classes for only $49 with a FREE uniform included.  Call 903-243-8767 or visit www.sulphurspringsata.com to register today!

The Control Contradiction in Martial Arts

A study published in the Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology revealed that martial arts training is effective at teaching self-control. It makes sense, given that martial arts practitioners have to perform moves carefully and in a certain way, and behave respectfully during class. They regulate their actions and the power behind their strikes, and many individuals feel more in control of their lives after studying a discipline. But the irony of martial arts is that you have to relinquish control before you find it.

Leave egos at the door
Starting a new martial art is a humbling experience: You don't know any of the techniques those around you seem to have no problem performing. Even students who have been studying for years get knocked down, mess up a form or forget a skill. Every time you enter the class, you have to leave your ego at the door, knowing you are not perfect – and that's OK. Eventually, your body will learn the techniques, and you will progress in your training.

However, if you try to control your training, you'll fail to learn. Instead of trying to control everything, let go. Focus on listening to your instructor and your peers and feeling the way your body is moving.

Letting your instructor lead the way
Some people also have a hard time trusting their instructors. This relative stranger is telling you to move your body in ways you may never have before, so the fear of letting go is understandable. However, the instructor is your ally, and he or she is asking you to do new things to help you grow.

There will be days in your training when you want to progress to new techniques, but your instructor is making you drill the basics. Or, you might be itching to test for the next belt. Your instructor knows what he or she is doing. Trust in the experts, and you'll become a better martial artist.

Once you give up control, you'll start mastering yourself and the discipline.

Start your path to discipline today with our FREE trial class and your first month for only $49 with FREE Uniform included.  Visit www.sulphurspringsata.com to register today!

article originally published at Kicksite MAT chat newsletter.  

Can martial arts help kids focus?

What characteristics define the ideal martial artist? Films like "Ip Man" and "Fearless" depict legendary masters as practitioners who are focused, calm, kind and disciplined. And while every martial artist may have his or her own view of what a true master is like, it's hard to argue against traits like self-regulation. In fact, to rise in rank, students have to motivate themselves, push past their comfort zones and internalize the skills they're taught. It's for this reason martial arts have a reputation for instilling focus.

If your child lacks focus in school, can martial arts help? Possibly.

How martial arts teach focus
Whether your child wants to learn a modern or traditional martial art, he or she will be exposed to a structured environment. Most instructors lay out codes of conduct for their classes, which include practices like bowing, reciting mottos and staying on task. Getting distracted is much more difficult if an instructor requires students to pay attention and calls out those who aren't following the rules.

Additionally, martial-arts moves can be complicated, as they combine both upper- and lower-body movement. Your child will have to focus to be able to not only perform new actions, but also commit them to muscle memory.

Finally, martial arts can be fun! If your child enjoys the training – and the sense of accomplishment and self-confidence that come with it – he or she will be motivated to remain focused during class. Practice makes perfect, and the more your child exercises concentration in the studio, the easier it will be for him or her to do so in school.

Studies in intervention
The structure of martial arts seems to support developing focus, but what does research say? According to a study published in the Journal of Pedagogical Development, the benefits of martial arts reach beyond self-defense and encompass the building of self-regulation. This basically means martial arts teach kids a variety of skills that help them avoid reacting impulsively.

Visit www.sulphurspringsata.com to see how we may be able to help your child learn to focus.