Martial Arts for Kids: Things Kids Learn in Tae Kwon Do Besides Kicks

Tae kwon do has become a popular activity for kids not just because it is fun, active, and affordable, but because their parents see real changes in their children. It’s no surprise to our instructors that many therapists and counselors have recommended that kids with ADHD try martial arts. But everyone can benefit from it (including adults!).

FOCUSING
Everyone in a TKD class works on their focus, even adults. By getting familiar with the movements, and then concentrating for short periods of time on a specific skill, each student exercises their brain as much as their body. With ample breaks between these periods of focus, we don’t get as mentally tired, and instead build up the ability to focus over time.

LISTENING
A typical tae kwon do class will move rapidly from practicing one thing to another, so the brain is always receiving novel stimulation. Instead of shutting off the brain or “zoning out” while running on a treadmill or around a track, the student needs to listen for what the next thing is. This helps develop attention skills and comprehension.

SELF-DISCIPLINE & RESPECT
Part of the tae kwon do “vibe” is an atmosphere of courtesy and respect. This is more than just bowing to the instructor. This means both learning self-control as part of the courtesy we show to others, and the expectations that students should have that others will respect them, too. For young children, learning to be quiet and sit still is one piece of it, but also learning to be part of a group and work together so everyone improves is part of it, too.

NON-COMPETITIVE
Unlike sports which are competitive, and which can leave a person feeling like they’re “no good” if they can’t perform a skill like hitting a ball, in tae kwon do the increasing difficulty of the curriculum is part of the fun. The only person a student “competes with” is the past self they are leaving behind. When students can see real progress, whether marked by colored belt ranks or just by mastery of something new, they are motivated to do even more.

HOW TO MAKE MISTAKES
No one starts out perfect in tae kwon do. If we did, we would just hand you a black belt when you walked in. Everyone expects to start at the beginning and then make incremental improvements. As general abilities and fitness increase, including balance, strength, reflexes, speed, flexibility, cardio, and stamina, the mental side of tae kwon do also grows. Overcoming these small physical challenges builds confidence in each student that they can keep improving and meet the challenges still to come.

Contact us if you’d like to visit a class to see tae kwon do in action!