Feel Safe Martial Arts

Learn to Feel Safe at Through Martial Arts Classes

By Shotokan Karate Leadership School in Santa Rosa, CA

Most people send their children or join themselves in a karate class so as to facilitate learning of self-defense techniques. Regardless of age, this is the major reason that people are drawn towards karate. Everyone likes to feel safe as it can also give you a feeling of empowerment. The confidence that comes along with learning how to be able to defend yourself is a great boost for your self-esteem and assurance. Bullying at school is no new concept and however advanced schooling systems may have become, there is always room for learning how to stand up for yourself and be confident.

Bullying is not only prevalent in schoolyards but also at the workplace. Verbal and physical abuse can be just as traumatizing in a professional setting. The self-defense techniques that you learn in martial arts class can help protect you from bullies and abusers, whether they are your colleagues or bosses. Martial arts  training can help you keep your cool in high-pressure situations and react with a clear head. There is no need to be paranoid, but martial arts training gives you the peace of mind that comes with knowing that you have some self-defense skills. You will feel more in control of any situation in which someone is threatening you

How does karate make you feel safe?Karate helps make you feel safe

Karate is a self-defense tool that is always available at your disposal. Students build up self-defense techniques that help protect against the most common ways of being assaulted. They learn to block slaps, block punches to any part of the body, block kicks to the groin and disengage themselves from grabs or chokes.

Students at Shotokan Karate Leadership School train regularly in order to not only build up skills of defending themselves from a physical attack but also to develop their confidence, self-esteem, fitness, strength, agility, sharpness and focus. Karate is not only meant to teach you how to fight, it also imbibes in students the importance of respect, courtesy, self-control, self-restraint and discipline. This holistic development, both physically and mentally, is the best remedy for a student to feel safe.

Martial arts classes provide a sense of safety and security to students. According to the National Institute of Justice, martial arts can help an individual defend themselves against physical attacks. Train regularly in order to not only build up skills of defending yourself, but to also increase your physical fitness, strength and agility. This will help you feel safe in any situation. Martial arts are a great way to gain self-defense skills and feel safe when out and about.

In Safe HandsParents leave their children in safe hands

The instructors at Shotokan Karate Leadership School are well-trained and experts at helping their students to grow and develop through learning karate. As a parent, you can be left assured that your child is in the safest hands. All training sessions are watched over and supervised by instructors to ensure quality training.

Please visit https://askaboutkarate.com/ for information about our martial arts school in Santa Rosa, CA!

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Healthy Social Activity

Karate Classes act as a Healthy Social Activity for Your Family

By Shotokan Karate Leadership School in Santa Rosa, CA

Involving yourself in a social activity is really important to ensure healthy living and wholesome development. Social activities help you feel good while improving your well-being. In the modern world, where everybody is caught up and busy with their packed schedules, it becomes difficult to take out time and be together as a family. Finding something to do together that each member of the family can enjoy is also not an easy task. Karate is one such activity that can be taken up to help increase your social interactions, help you make new friends and can even be taken up as a social family activity.

How karate can help you socially

Karate Class as a Healthy ActivityKarate is an apt activity to help develop a person to be more active and healthy. This is true at both a physical and mental level. As a social activity, karate also helps people to build social relationships. A journey through a karate course develops a strong sense of camaraderie and companionship as students work together. The interaction between the senior and the junior members at a karate class is a perfect example of how social interaction can lead to a positive development. There are many cases where relationships that have been formed in a karate class take on a whole new level and move forward outside the classroom as well. The friendships and bonds that are formed are quite often maintained over many years. Karate is an activity where social interaction with other people becomes a necessity.  This is an excellent opportunity to help your children get along with other people and make friends.

Aside from the social aspects, karate can also offer a sense of discipline and achievement that families can share together. The physical and emotional benefits of training in karate are many. As individuals become more proficient in the martial art, they develop a sense of confidence and self-respect. In a family setting, this can translate into increased cooperation and communication within the home.

Karate for your entire family

Karate Classes or your FamilyKarate classes can provide your family with a healthy social activity while teaching important life skills. The discipline and focus required to learn karate can also help children in other areas of their lives. When families practice karate together, they can enjoy time spent together and learn about each other’s strengths and weaknesses. In addition, karate provides a common interest and activity that the entire family can participate in.

Many families find that karate is a great way to get active and stay fit. Classes typically involve a lot of physical activity, and children can burn off energy while learning to focus and control their movements. In addition to the physical benefits, karate can help teach important character traits such as patience, determination, courtesy, and respect.

Karate and the martial arts are wholesome and holistic in many ways. It is not just an activity that is suitable for kids. There are special martial arts programs that are developed specifically for adults as well. Karate can be the perfect social activity for you to enjoy along with all members of your family as it is apt for both kids and adults.

Please visit https://askaboutkarate.com/ for information about our martial arts school in Santa Rosa, CA!

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Conflict Resolution

Conflict Resolution and Clear Thinking for Kids

By Shotokan Karate Leadership School in Santa Rosa, CA

Kids, especially the young ones, have the tendency of getting into unnecessary conflicts with their siblings or classmates. It creates a lot of nuisance for their mothers as well as teachers. Sometimes this problem goes out of hand and it becomes difficult for their parents to discipline them.

This happens when the kids are not taught about the value of being disciplined and how to think clearly. After a certain age it becomes difficult to control some kids as they become aggressive and react negatively to any sort of scolding. At this point, it becomes inevitable for the parents to send their kids to classes where they are taught to be more disciplined and to clear their mind and help them to focus on one particular thing.

Clear Thinking for KidsJoining a karate training class would be the best for them as it not only helps the kids to be more self-controlled, but also instills a lot of self-discipline and helps them to think clearly. These classes help kids to channelize their aggressive attitude and ensure that they become more focused about what they want to achieve. It also helps them in resolving any conflict they may come across in the future. Such training will also be helpful for the shy and reserved children. Once the classes get over they will become totally confident and outspoken people.

Martial arts are definitely a great way to keep the kids away from indulging in any kind of violence and help them grow into better individuals. A lot of times, parents do not have enough time to spend with their children. In such cases, enrolling the child in a martial arts class can be quite helpful. Apart from teaching self- defense, this system also teaches kids to be very organized and disciplined. This is something that helps them in their day-to-day life too. A lot of schools are now considering beginning martial arts classes for their children. This way they will not only increase the concentration power of these kids but also help them bulk up physically which will eventually lead to a healthy lifestyle.

Conflict Resolution Clear ThinkingMartial arts have been proven to be an effective means of conflict resolution and have been used for centuries for this purpose. When two individuals are fighting or in the midst of an argument, martial arts can help to diffuse the situation and provide a clear path to resolving the conflict. Many times, people resort to violence as a means of conflict resolution. This is where martial arts can be a useful tool because it teaches individuals to resolve conflicts in a nonviolent manner.

At Shotokan Karate Leadership School, your children will get all the help they need and will help them in engaging their mind and body in doing something useful. Shotokan Karate Leadership School has the best coaching and training staff who will make the children ready to face the challenges of the future. 

Please visit https://askaboutkarate.com/ for information about our martial arts school in Santa Rosa, CA!

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Healthy Habits

Healthy Habits and Life Skills for Children

By Shotokan Karate Leadership School in Santa Rosa, CA

Nowadays with easy access to technology, children are disconnected with the world of physical activity. As a result, health disorders among kids are a very common phenomenon. Children do not eat healthy food and spend their spare time watching TV and playing video games. It is important for parents to ensure that their child is actively involved in at least one physical activity which will help them stay fit and would also help them to develop a competitive spirit.

Life Skills for ChildrenMartial arts are one such form of activity which can be combined with learning valuable healthy habits. Not only does martial arts teach children valuable physical techniques but it also provides them with mental strength and focus. A child’s mind is like a sponge, it absorbs everything. When you teach your kid the basic moves of karate or taekwondo , it is not just the physical ability that you are developing, but also mental strength.

One of the key benefits of martial arts is that it helps children to focus on a task. This is extremely important as it can help them in other areas of their life such as academics. When a child is able to focus, they are better able to learn and retain information. In addition, martial arts can also help to improve a child

Learning karate has lots of benefits health wise as well as in gaining life skills which would be useful in their future endeavors. Some of these benefits are:

  • Enhanced focus and concentration: This is a quality which is needed in any field of work and can come in handy for the kids in their studies Life Skills for Childrenas well.
  • Increased self-control: Kids are able to handle themselves better in tough situations and won’t be misled by temper.
  • Awareness about threats and risks: They would be prepared to handle themselves in times of trouble.
  • Leadership skills and team spirit: Any competitive sport helps a person in learning to lead and work in a team. Although karate is an individual sport, it can be played with a team and you may do better when you know how you perform will effect others in your team.
  • Greater co-ordination: Karate helps kids attain a better mind and muscle coordination.
  • Winning attitude: It will make kids wise and instill a winning attitude which will be a positive aspect in their future.

It is important that your child enjoys the daily routine of working on his/her karate skills, but if it is not so, you should find out what is it that your child enjoys doing the most in terms of physical activity.

Please visit https://askaboutkarate.com/ for information about our martial arts school in Santa Rosa, CA!

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Better Grades

Better Grades for School Kids at Shotokan Karate Leadership School

By Shotokan Karate Leadership School in Santa Rosa, CA

It is a general belief that kids who study the most are the ones who get the best grades in school. It may be true, but research has also shown that for the overall development of the personality of a kid, it is important that he/she develops a habit of doing something other than just studying. It could be anything and can vary from person to person. Some may like to play a musical instrument while others may like to be involved in a physical activity.

There is a lot of research that supports the idea that martial arts can help children improve their grades. For instance, according to a study conducted by the University of Vermont, there is evidence that martial arts training can improve “children’s executive function abilities, self-discipline and classroom behavior.” (1) And according to this study, there has been success in improving grades by 2.5% percent. The same results were found when children were enrolled into academic enrichment classes or music lessons.

Reduce StressLearning karate is also one of those activities which would guarantee an overall development of the personality of a child which would indirectly help the kid to get good grades at school. It ensures that the kid is disciplined and helps him to prioritize his commitments.

At Shotokan Karate Leadership School, training in karate has become a common sight. People are now aware about its benefits and do not hesitate in sending their kids here. When a comparison was made between the kids going to this karate training with that of the kids who don’t, it was quite clear who performed better when it came to academics.

There is no direct connection between getting karate training and securing good grades. It is all because of the indirect benefits of karate training like reduced stress levels, high self-confidence and increased focus. It helps kids to perform way better in academics than their peers who don’t have any such extra-curricular activity to engage themselves in their free time.

extra-curricular activityWith more and more people knowing about this connection between getting enrolled in a martial arts class and improving grades, there are many new karate training centers opening around the country. Do know that your child will also gain quite a few other skills along with improved grades. For example, they will develop their listening, self discipline, patience etc.

So if you are looking for a way to help your child improve their grades, then getting them enrolled in a martial arts class is definitely the way to go!

Please visit https://askaboutkarate.com/ for information about our martial arts school in Santa Rosa, CA!

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Clearing the Stereotypes

How Martial Arts Teach Kids the Life Skills to Succeed and Thrive?

By Shotokan Karate Leadership School in Santa Rosa, CA

Martial Arts is more than a sport. It’s a lifestyle. Whether we talk about sports, the household, and the academic life of children, Martial Arts lets your kid feel the confidence needed to solve most of the life situations. In essence, Martial Arts become a bridge that a kid needs to thrive in life.

However, the question arises, how exactly are Martial Arts helpful in teaching kids the life skills they need to incorporate? Let’s get specific!

Clearing the Stereotypes

First thing’s first, there’s this stigma around the world that Martial Arts are aggressive and unethical for the kids. I blame movies for that part. But, if we talk about reality, Martial Arts incorporates the mental and physical growth of a child. It’s more than just landing punches and blows.

Even though Martial Arts is a physically demanding and a taxing sport, the main point of teaching Martial Arts is not to build ego or be a narcissistic fella. Martial Arts is often taught for the purpose of self-defense.

Hence, Martial Arts do not teach kids to be violent. It teaches them the necessary life skills and values they need to thrive in their lives.

Life Benefits of Martial Arts for Kids

1. Martial Arts Improve Attention & Learning Issues in ChildrenClearing the Stereotypes

It doesn’t matter what exercise we do. Exercise, in general, is super-rewarding for kids who are suffering from learning and attention issues. Specifically for kids with ADHD/ADD, it lets them build a flow and makes them recognize a pattern that they can benefit from.

Moreover, a lot of problems come from childhood. If your kid is having difficulty in focusing, it can lead to various social and physical problems that must be solved in order to have a great life.

On the other hand, Martial Arts develops mental and physical skills that incorporate following the rules and teach your kids the art of self-control.

2. Martial Arts Teach Self Confidence To kids

Life Benefits of Martial Arts for KidsAs a parent, it’s important for you to teach your kids self-confidence and how to respect others. This is where Martial Arts shine! When the kid knows that he can defend himself in sticky situations like bullying and fighting in general, he becomes calm and the self-confidence is on a whole nother level. In short, Martial Arts gives a boost in self-worth and self-confidence.

3. Martial Arts Help in Achieving The Goals

Once again, it’s the discipline and self-confidence that lead a person to a goal. A lot of kids suffer from lack of motivation and confidence. Martial Arts enables everyone (YES! Not Just Kids) to achieve goals at their own pace while making peace with their mind. Hence, when you’re mentally healthy, it’s only a matter of time that you’re going to achieve your goals.

4. The Power To Stand Back Up

Life is uncertain. There are always ups and downs no matter who we are. However, it’s the person who can stand up after he/she fails who The Power To Stand Back Upsucceeds. Martial Arts focus on building the mental and physical prowess that’ll let a person handle a situation in the sanest way possible.

Goal setting is one of the most important aspects of Martial Arts and it requires a lot of failing to reach goals in this department. In other words, learning from the failure and ability to rebound STRONGER is what Martial Arts teach the kids.

5. Healthy Body Is Equal To Healthy Mind

Martial Arts focuses a lot on physical fitness. Specifically for kids, it helps them to have a sturdier base and starting point to lead a healthy life. The exercise includes cardio, strength training, stretching, and skills to train the mind so that your kids can remain fit while achieving their life goals.

Moreover, having a fit body is essential for having a healthy mind. Healthy Body helps us in other areas of life such as social interactions, increased energy level, and self-confidence that will give you peace of mind.

Please visit https://askaboutkarate.com/ for information about our martial arts school in Santa Rosa, CA!

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Exercise and cognitive abilities

Exercise and Cognitive Abilities

By Shotokan Karate Leadership School in Santa Rosa, CA

Scientific evidence through neuro-imaging has suggested that physical activity improves a person’s cognitive ability across all ages. Age related brain tissue loss is minimized. Existing cognitive ability is improved. People can allocate more attention towards the environment. Information can be processed much more quickly. 

Survival throughout history

The human brain has an exceptional capacity when it comes to modifying its function and structure as per influences of experience and environment. Physical activity has played an important role at the time of biological adaptation. It ensured that humans survived through a number of catastrophic periods. During this time, foraging, exploration and defense along with cognitive skills were fully integrated to the motor operations of the body so that humans can survive. The hippocampus, a body part which has an important role in processing of memories, is highly influenced by many physical activities. Regions of the brain developed that controlled cognitive abilities. These adaptations led to adequate savings of energy so that a more complex and larger brain can evolve. Humans soon developed the capacity to walk upright and faster than ever before. All these were essential for survival.

Cognitive control means a subset of self-regulatory and goal directed operations which are involved in selection, coordination and scheduling of the computational process underlying action, perception and memory. The important cognitive processes are collectively referred to as “cognitive control”. They include inhibition, cognitive flexibility and working memory. 

Rise in Cognitive AbilitiesRise in cognitive skills

Research has revealed that regular physical activity led to a 50 percent increase in cognitive performance. Tasks needing larger cognitive control became much easier for the concerned individual. All these findings point toward the fact that physical activity helps an individual to be more attentive and improve and preserve cognitive functions considerably over time.

The above findings are applicable to all age groups, including school going children. Physical activity plays a positive role during development. In younger people, physical activity improves all the eight categories of measurement: perceptual skills, achievement, mathematics tests, academic or developmental readiness, intelligence quotient, verbal tests and memory. In fact exercise also helps in cognitive processes which help with maintaining balance and fine motor control. 

Please visit https://askaboutkarate.com/ for information about our martial arts school in Santa Rosa, CA!

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Fitness and Karate

Fitness Isn’t a Chore When It’s FUN! Part 2 of 2

By Shotokan Karate Leadership School in Santa Rosa, CA

Choose physical activities like Martial Arts that allow you to have fun, make friends, and push your own boundaries in a safe place. Actually enjoying the exercise alters our brain chemistry to reduce and resist stress, ultimately leading to mental clarity and better performance at all levels. Playing vigorously has the added benefit of ridding your body of stress-causing hormones such as adrenaline. Activities like the Martial Arts are shown to significantly bolster the brain’s and body’s stress resistance functions.

​​Strength training, yoga, or any exercise that involves tensing then releasing muscles can act as progressive relaxation. As Dr. Brehm-Curtis explains it, “When you measure muscle electrical activity after weight training, there’s less electrical activity, indicating that the muscles are more relaxed.” 

If you are not the type to meditate, try rhythmic, repetitive activities such as certain Martial Arts styles, swimming, rowing, or running, all of which increase alpha brain waves. These are the same waves that produce a meditative calm. 

Fitness with KarateHow many of us have said we can’t find time for one 30 or 40 minute exercise session? The American Council on Exercise suggests taking a 10-minute break every 90 minutes to climb stairs or walk around the building. You’ll accumulate 50 minutes of exercise in an eight-hour day and be more productive, because you’re reducing stress and physically moving.

For stress-relieving benefits, try exercising at least 30 minutes most days of the week. If you are new to exercise, begin with just two or three days, then work up to five or more days. If you need help or have questions, ask your Martial Arts instructor. Remember, exercise doesn’t just affect your physical appearance but your mental health too!

Common to most popular Martial Arts styles practiced in the U.S. today are the terrific mental and physical benefits derived from the total body workouts, especially in supportive classes where partner stretches, exercises, drills, and free sparring intensify the experience! Long-lasting fitness doesn’t have to be boring! Martial Arts are anything but routine, and the amazing benefits are available to anyone – at any starting fitness level or age – who is willing first to try then to persevere. Perhaps the secret to the longevity of traditional Martial Arts could be how personally and collectively enjoyable the practice, and how varied and advantageous the rewards. Fitness is not a chore when it’s fun!

Please visit https://askaboutkarate.com/ for information about our martial arts school in Santa Rosa, CA!

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Fitness Isn't a Chore

Fitness Isn’t a Chore When It’s FUN! Part 1 of 2

By Shotokan Karate Leadership School in Santa Rosa, CA

Training at your local Martial Arts facility provides a remarkable series of experiences that are anything but boring, same-old same-old routines! Training gradually improves your abilities, incrementally reaching personal goals in a safe and fun environment. Martial Arts are well known for their ability to develop impressive combat skills and self-confidence. They enhance strength, stamina, focus, reflexes, and more. And it’s more fun, more motivating to sweat and train with classmates who share your interests and support your goals!

But a quality program will provide much more than mere yelling, jumping, kicking, and punching. Whether confidence, discipline, fitness, or self-defense is one’s motivation for training, the central aim of every Martial Arts student is to improve. To get tougher; to be more adept and effective. We train to conquer obstacles and fears, to broaden our capacities, to learn and earn respect in all areas of life. It shows in our Black Belt attitudes – and in our physical fitness!

Karate and FitnessIf your exercise routine is no longer motivating, or seems to be producing less and less of the toning and conditioning results you want, you just have to try Martial Arts at Shotokan Karate Leadership School! Consider: you’ve tightened your abs, stretched your hamstrings, and built your biceps, but have you done any work to stretch and build your mental stamina? Exercise helps your body’s systems resist stress-related disorders and dysfunctions. Martial Arts training for many is intense, relaxing, and ultimately satisfying all at once. In large part we must thank our incredible brain chemistry for the relief and improvements we receive.

Martial Arts training helps practitioners “keep our cool” – stay calm and not panic or overreact – in stressful situations. Simply put, through our practice, we learn to control our minds and bodies so that less adrenaline is released whenever we experience stress. 

How it WorksHere’s how it works: The brain neurologically signals the body to produce adrenaline during stressful situations, but the surge is beneficial only for short periods of time, not long-term. Long-term exposure to adrenaline is now known to cause many physical problems. It can contribute to headaches, digestive problems, colds, high blood pressure, heart disease, and even stomach fat! According to Barbara Brehm-Curtis, Ed. D., professor of exercise and sport studies at Smith College in Northampton, MA, “If done consistently, physical activity actually reduces your stress reactivity. That means less adrenaline gets released and you don’t get as stressed out by things that used to upset you.” 

…to be continued

Please visit https://askaboutkarate.com/ for information about our martial arts school in Santa Rosa, CA!

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How Kids Karate Teaches Discipline

How Kids’ Karate Teaches Discipline

By Shotokan Karate Leadership School in Santa Rosa, CA

Parents bring their children to train at Shotokan Karate Leadership School for a variety of reasons. Top quality Martial Arts programs motivate and lead youngsters to slim down, improve their body image, and increase self-esteem. Martial Arts bolsters their self-worth and helps them learn to become opinion leaders, to resist bullying, and to have confidence in themselves. Most importantly to some parents, a good children’s program is a fun and effective means of teaching better self-discipline.

Studying Martial Arts is hard work for anyone. Steady improvement requires pushing one’s self to surpass previous boundaries, whether physical, mental, or otherwise. A good Karate program for kids is an excellent means of instilling appreciation for the results that focus, sincere effort, and perseverance can achieve. Many kids come into the Martial Arts school lacking focus or direction. Some have had minor disciplinary issues at home or school. Kids’ Karate teaches even the most rambunctious to use good manners, follow reasonable rules, give and receive respect, and get along well with others.

​​Kids KarateMartial Arts are physical disciplines as well as mental. To progress to the next rank or level, one must genuinely apply himself or herself on a regular basis, thereby creating a “good” habit. For students to do well in a kids’ Karate program, they must act with focus and determination which many have never before experienced. Many parents happily observe that, after some time in a Martial Arts program for children, their once misbehaved or discourteous kids begin to carry their new-found respect, focus, and determination into other areas of life such as their relationships and school work.

The best schools will offer a curriculum imbued not only with Martial Arts techniques, but also containing a series of valuable life skills. Many have shown great success in helping children develop wholesome, productive values such as respect, courtesy, self-discipline, self-esteem, self-confidence, and listening skills. Results commonly observed by parents whose children participate in the kids’ Karate program include improved grades at school and better social skills when interacting with their peers (such as bullying prevention and peer pressure resistance), siblings, and grown-ups.

Top NotchA top notch Martial Arts for children program will aid students in three fundamental areas off the martial arts mat: at home, at school, and in social settings. Some instructors even invite parents to create their own “wish list” to better allow them to target specific problem behaviors and help minimize or eliminate them. And while a kids program is ideal for teaching kids discipline, most kids stay in the program because it is fun.

Please visit https://askaboutkarate.com/ for information about our martial arts school in Santa Rosa, CA!

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