Taekwon-do
for Kids
Early martial arts schools
in Asia did not admit children, or if they did, they did not allow children
to become black belts. It was felt that children should not learn combat
skills and that they could not measure up to all the mental, physical and
emotional stresses of martial arts training.
When the martial arts started
catching on in the United States, however, popular culture forced a change
in thinking. Kids were watching Bruce Lee movies, and then came along
The Karate Kid, the Ninja Turtles and the Power Rangers. Now it is
extremely rare to find a school that does not teach children.
Especially when numerous
studies have demonstrated that martial arts training is good for kids.
It's good for kids with a lot of pent up energy and talent and good for
kids who need to get off the couch and do something physical. It's
good for building leadership skills. It's good for kids who are extremely
aggressive and also for kids who are very shy. It helps build self-confidence
and it particularly has positive benefits for kids on the autism spectrum
or who have ADHD.
Not all martial arts schools
are the same, however. Most in Portland have competent instructors
who relate well to children and the kids have a lot of fun. This
is definitely true at Traditional Taekwon-do Kwan, but in addition, kids
learn to excel.
We put the emphasis on art
in martial arts. We view Taekwon-do as a way to improve one' s body, mind
and character, and not just a form of physical competition. Our standards
for students are very high, but so are our standards for teaching.
We do not spend a lot
of time talking about the philosophy of taekwon-do in a children's class,
but we do emphasize its ethics. Children learn the Five Tenets of Taekwon-do:
courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self control and indomitable spirit.
When they promote to intermediate and advanced levels, they must hand in
a paper giving examples of a specific tenet. The tenets are discussed
in class frequently and as children rise through the belt ranks, you see
them come to truly understand each tenet and incorporate it into their
lives.
What we always strive
to do:
1.Recognize that each student
is an individual and provide individual attention to each student.
2.Set standards and benchmarks
that are hard, but not impossible, to reach
3.Maintain a challenging
curriculum
4.Provide private lessons
and other alternative settings for students when appropriate.
5.Maintain proper student
behavior in class, explaining and encouraging self discipline.
6.Insist that students never
use the skills they learn outside of class, unless they are
defending themselves and have run out of other options
7.Make sure all our students
have a safe environment at our school
8.Recognize and reward students
for true achievement.
9.Always communicate with
parents as much as possible.
What we don't do:
1.Treat some students as
if they are unable to learn the skills of taekwon-do.
2.Promote students based
on reasons other than the specific requirements for their belt level as
described in the Student Guide.
3.Pass out meaningless stripes,
patches or other rewards for just showing up.
4.Teach techniques that
are potentially dangerous to do.
5.Push students in to special
school teams or clubs, at a significant extra cost, in order to receive
the training that they should get through normal tuition and classes.
Taekwon-do offers several
benefits to students who practice it, including:
Self-Discipline
The discipline you impose
on yourself in order to meet a goal is more enduring than any discipline
dictate by someone else.
Progress in our system is
based on meeting ever more challenging objectives, and it requires increasing
self-discipline with each new level. Thus, the student is motivated to
be diligent and persistent.
As students rise in rank,
they are expected to become role models for new students--and the examples
they set form the basis for further advancement.
Self-Confidence
When students finally master
difficult Taekwon-do skills or pass an arduous test to promote to the next
belt level, they gain a sense of real achievement. That builds confidence
in themselves.
Together with self-discipline,
this enhanced self-esteem helps keep kids on the right track. They are
less likely to act out violently or be bullies by peer pressure.
Self-Defense
Children today are vulnerable
to all sorts of predators. In Taekwon-do, they learn techniques that can
effectively ward off an attack by someone larger. More importantly, they
learn to keep their wits and practice basic self-preservation (yelling
"Fire! " when attacked because it draws more attention; running away).
As their senses become more acute from Taekwon-do training, they are able
to spot potential dangers more readily.
Students are admonished
to use Taekwon-do skills only for self-defense. Fighting rarely is a problem
with our students and they know if they get into a fight, they can be suspended
from attending our classes.
Fitness
A lot of kids don't get much
exercise other than maneuvering the Nintendo buttons. An hour of Taekwon-do
a day will improve their strength, flexibility, coordination and endurance.
Although there is competition
in Taekwon-do, the sports aspects are downplayed at our school. There is
no pressure to win or make the team. Even kids who have never done anything
athletic in their lives can excel at Taekwon-do if they keep trying. More
natural athletes, too, build skills such as hand-eye coordination that
carry over into other sports.
Traditional Taekwon-do
may not be for every child. If you and your child are seeking just
a recreational outlet to burn off excess energy and have fun, there are
plenty of other schools that can do that. We do play games in the
children's classes and keep the atmosphere as light as possible, but they
are classes and education is our priority. If you want your child
to have an enjoyable and enriching experience that will help him or her
overcome obstacles in life, then Traditional Taekwon-do would be a very
good choice. |
