KARATE-DO FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH
We have two groups of students below 18 years, “Karate Kids” from the age of 3 to 13 years and another of “Cadets and Juniors” from age 14 to 19 years old. We teach them from the basics to advanced Karate techniques later on, thereby ensuring strong physical, mental, and moral development. The Karate Kids, Cadets, and juniors of our organization are successfully performing at many events in their schools and competitions. We concentrate on the development of every student because every student is precious to us. We have many parents confiding that their kids are performing better in their academics as well as sports and general life with the help of Karate-Do training.
We regularly arrange KATA & KUMITE competitions at various levels with teams participating from our club and other dojos in which many of our students excel which makes us proud. The children have lots of energy and we channel their energy for their physical and mental development.
We have often seen that children imitate martial arts films of Jackie Chan, and Bruce Lee or demonstrations of martial arts on television through various serials and cartoons. If a child shows an interest in martial arts there is a question that comes to one’s mind, which can be as follows:
What benefits will a child receive from karate training?
PHYSICAL FITNESS
At our organization, your child can enjoy regular exercise in a friendly and encouraging environment. Karate can also help improve a child’s coordination and flexibility. We are aware that a child’s body is still growing, and therefore their training is tailored so that there are no exercises that would be dangerous to their physical development.
TO BE CONFIDENT, TO BE RESPECTFUL AND DISCIPLINED
Incorporated into our training is a striving towards positive personal attributes such as discipline, self-control, patience, confidence, and respect. A grading system is a great tool for encouraging goal-driven achievements and improving self-confidence; whilst the higher grades are a reminder of how one should always keep “striving for excellence always”. At our organization, we encourage the junior grades to look up to the higher grades and we expect the senior grades to look after and set an example to the lower grades. Respect for one another, and ourselves, is an important part of our ethos.
BEHAVIOR ISSUES
Karate is a great way to help your child build respect, both for themselves and for the people around them. Students are encouraged to respect and look after each other, and they are encouraged to take responsibility for their actions, especially when training with a partner. The grading system encourages focus, as each child strives to attain their next grade. All our belts are earned through hard work, so when your child receives their next grade they will have gained something they can be truly proud of.
SELF DEFENSE
Karate was created and developed for self-defense. Our primary aim at Japan Karate-Do Nobukawa-Ha Shito-Ryu Kai-India (Japan Karate-Do Shito-Ryu International Renshikan) is to teach our students self-defense skills. We develop these from the most basic level, teaching awareness and stressing that they should try to avoid confrontation wherever possible. It is also explained that these skills are only to be used in self-defense, and should never be used offensively. Karate is never to be used for instigating violence, only in the prevention of harm to one’s self or family.
FUN ACTIVITY
As well as the positive physical and mental attributes it is important that our students have fun whilst training. Karate is an enjoyable activity that gets children away from the television and computers and doing something more constructive whilst still having fun!
PARENTS
Parents play an important role in the development of their children hence they should take interest and co-ordinate with the Karate Instructor for the betterment of the kids. Without parent co-operation it is difficult to develop a child.
