By Shotokan Karate Leadership School in Santa Rosa, CA
It’s NO SECRET that most American families are lacking the proper amount of physical activity. According to the latest figures from the National Center for Health Statistics, one in five adolescents ages 12 to 19 were overweight in the United States in 2018-2019, a rise of almost 24% since 1999-2000. Family support has been a key factor identified to encourage physical fitness among children, according to the Surgeon General.
The key to getting your kids out of the house and moving about is creating a routine that is both fun and challenging. Most children drop out of sports because it ceases to be fun, there is too much emphasis on winning, or there is lack of parental involvement. Choosing an activity such as karate is perfect for families looking for a challenging way to stay in shape and learn new skills together without putting too much emphasis on competition.
The best way for parents to become positive role models for their children and encourage them to become involved in physical activities, is to become involved themselves. Moms, dads and kids who exercise together, plan better eating choices, and adopt a healthier family lifestyle are more likely to have greater bonding, better relationships and overall improved health.
Karate is a perfect opportunity for parents and kids to learn a skill together and experience an activity that is strong in learning, recreation, and family bonding, all at the same time. There’s nothing like mutual encouragement when it comes to an activity that requires discipline. Karate can provide continuous challenges for families to pursue together for years to come. A family that kicks together sticks together as the life skills and levels of respect are so admirable in the martial arts.
“You may be on the right track, but if you just sit there, you’ll be run over.”— Unknown
Some students come to karate at Shotokan Karate Leadership School in shape, while others have come 100 pounds overweight. Most come with limited flexibility. Adults start at any age, as Shotokan Karate Leadership School has had some adults who started as late as age 65 and have still earned their black belts. As a student, you are looked upon as an individual, never compared to anyone else. Shotokan Karate Leadership School instructors will be there every step of the way. All that is expected is a willingness to try.
Here are some benefits you can expect from training in karate at Shotokan Karate Leadership School:
- Fitness – The principles of karate techniques are Reality Based Training on the design of your body. For power you develop the larger, powerful muscles of the torso. The speed of the techniques comes from the fast, agile muscles of the arms and legs. As you progress in karate, you will learn to coordinate this speed and power, and develop a concentration to focus all your body’s strength into a small, hard striking surface like the edge of the hand or the heel of a foot.
- Self-Defense – When the speed and power developed through karate is used in a self-defense situation against the vulnerable parts of an attacker’s body, the results can be incredible. Karate allows a woman to emphasize many of her natural physical strengths, such as power in the legs, while learning a method of self-defense efficiently against a much larger opponent. Knowing you can defend yourself; your confidence will grow. And confidence alone is usually enough to deter potential attackers.
- Self-Confidence – This does not come naturally for many people, but self-confidence can be developed over a period. Through karate, as you accomplish new goals, your confidence level increases. Karate instills a sense of discipline and self-confidence that can carry over to all aspects of your life.
Instructors at Shotokan Karate Leadership School are not only there to teach classes but to positively motivate, inspire and teach the necessary self-discipline traits and life skills needed in this ever-changing world.
Please visit https://askaboutkarate.com for information about our Karate school in Santa Rosa, CA!