Benefits of your child earning a Jr. Black Belt

We take training very seriously at our school.

It is so much more than just martial arts here.  Children, as well as adults, are taught many things to enhance life.  Here are eight important things that you may not realize they are learning?

1. Peace of Mind: Knowing that your child is actively training how to stay aware and safe is a great peace of mind for any parent.  Those that do not train do not know how to defend themselves. Your child is learning how to defend against predators, bullies and countless problems in life.  He or she will know how to respond appropriately in a dangerous situation.  You are doing a great service as a parent or guardian by preparing them to handle scary situations and to know what to do when a threat arises.
2. Future Preparation:  Colleges absolutely love black belts in their school!  A black belt carries a lot of positive clout.  A surefire way to get your son or daughter’s application to the top of the admission’s pile is to show the college that they didn’t quit.  They took the hard road of earning a black belt.  It is very rare!  Schools will always pick someone that they know will be a role-model and emulate responsibility, personal success and accomplishment on and off campus.
3. Bringing out the individual: Sometimes in a large family, a child can easily lose his or her own identity.  Unlike team sport activities, we do ever not force competition against others in our school.  It is an individual process that is tailored to each student by our experienced instructors.  Students go through sets of personal challenges to grow from the experience.  They learn to know who they are and they learn to love who they become.  They stand out from the crowd and it definitely shows.
4. No more bullying: We don’t know of any black belts that get bullied, period.  Bullies prey on the weak, but they are repelled by the strong.
5. Positive Mentoring at crucial developmental years: A parent old us how much they enjoyed how their sons were completely surrounded by older positive people.  Not just the teachers, but older kids that were on the same path towards personal mastery.  It is like having dozens of cool older brothers and sisters that will have your back and encourage you when you need help.  The children are being exposed to many diverse role-models of all ages that will help shape their future to be a bright and successful one.
6. Strong ethical principles: With the values and ethics we instill in the students, they will naturally stay away from a poor choice of friends.  They will be less likely to ever get into confrontations or trouble with the law.  They will be respectful to others and have compassion for those in need.  Most of all, they will learn to rely on themselves for long lasting happiness and contentment.
7. Opportunities: A black belt is pre-trained for almost any job.  Future employers will hire a black belt because of the skills the student can demonstrate.  Your child may grow up to actually become an instructor.  He or she may one day even own a large Dojo (school).  A career in martial arts can be extremely fulfilling.  They are learning skills that will help them to get that job and succeed.
8. 8. Don’t forget the parent’s part: Level 2 and 3 are long and bumpy roads where students are tested often.  As a responsible and disciplined parent, you didn’t let your son or daughter quit.  You are very rare indeed!  You invested the time and money ensuring that they will have an edge in their adult future.  In a society where it is easy to dabble and quit to do something else, you showed your child that great things come to those who don’t give up because it was too hard.    One of the main roles of a parent is to prepare a child for the real world. You are doing that!

“If you want children to keep their feet on the ground, put some responsibility on their shoulders.”

article by Todd Norcross