Teens today face so many unique challenges. From bullying and stress to anxiety and depression, as a parent, it’s difficult to know how to help. Now more than ever, it’s so important to ensure our teens are surrounded by a positive and supportive community to keep them on the right track.
Martial arts programs have long been praised for their many benefits among people of all ages, such as improved focus, discipline, and confidence. Unfortunately, most traditional martial arts programs are more geared towards serving younger children, leaving older teens feeling left out and under-served.
After over a decade of developing and leading martial arts programs, we understand the need for a comprehensive mixed martial arts program designed to get teens moving, connecting with other like-minded individuals, and having fun…OFF their device of choice.
We’ve put together a quick list of benefits of MMA training for teens to get you started:
Physical Fitness & Strength
If given the choice, many teens would much rather sit in front of a device all day than even think about doing any kind of physical fitness training. This can make motivating them to get involved in school sports that involve early mornings and long practice sessions multiple times per week. Most of our teens train in MMA two to three times per week…because they LOVE it! There’s something about getting to punch and kick a bag or pads that doesn’t feel like working out and is just plain fun. Plus, it builds both mental and physical strength which helps combat any negative self-talk they may be dealing with as a result of bullying.
Self-Esteem
So many teens struggle with a lack of self-confidence due to their lack of maturity and perspective. On top of that, bullying and cyberbullying are still a major problem in many of our middle and high schools. Rather than focusing on all the ways they “fall short”, training in MMA gives them a place where they can focus on all the ways they excel. With opportunities to earn new belt ranks and learn new and challenging techniques, MMA training will have your teen feeling motivated and proud of themselves and their accomplishments.
Motivation & Work Ethic
One of the most challenging things about raising a teen can sometimes be just keeping them motivated. As they inch closer to adulthood, parents begin to worry about their future success when it comes to higher education and even careers. Martial arts training teaching the importance of committing to a goal and following through. Experienced martial arts trainers and coaches will know how to hold teens accountable for their class attendance and weekly practice time. This helps them build a strong work ethic which will serve them tremendously in their future.
Self-Respect
While the focus is typically on how they are being treated by others, it’s important for teens to understand that having self-respect will help other to see and treat them with dignity and worth. Having a healthy level of self-respect will enable them to have the confidence to set firm boundaries that align with their values. Martial arts training consistently reemphasizes the concept of respecting themselves as well as respecting others. Teens quickly learn that when they demonstrate good respect towards others, they are deserving of being treated with respect in return. Understanding this, they are much less willing to settle for anything less when interacting with their peers at school or other social situations.
A Sense Of Community
With anxiety and depression being so prevalent among teens, it’s so important to make sure they have a supportive community they can rely on. Martial arts communities are some of the tightest-knit groups of kids, teens, and adults. It feels amazing to see teens surrounded by people with common interests and goals that will support them on their good days and bad. It’s easy for them to make awesome friends that they actually enjoy hanging out with. It’s no wonder so many parents choose martial arts training for their teens!
Ready to start seeing your teen benefit form martial artists training? At Invictus, we help you do just that! And it’s easy to GET STARTED.
There is no shortage of benefits when it comes to training in the martial arts. But, as a concerned parent, you want to be confident in selecting a program that will be most beneficial to your child. Allow us to grant you the gift of going second.
We hear all the time how much parents love martial arts and we’re excited to share what they have experienced!
Here are the top 5 reasons parents LOVE the martial arts for their families:
1. It Keeps Kids Active
It’s easy to see that martial arts is great exercise and, unlike less engaging workouts, the process of training in martial arts is more exciting and fun for kids of all ages. We hear time and time again, “I never thought I’d get my kid off the couch and willingly attending a fitness class…but they LOVE martial arts!” That’s because every class is different and progress is easily measurable. Students love being able to learn new techniques and earn new belt ranks as they improve over time. Being able to consistently celebrate their progress keeps them engaged and excited to come to class keeping them active and fit.
2. It Teaches Discipline
Parents often notice the immediate focus on practicing good discipline habits during martial arts classes. From requiring students to use respectful responses like “yes, sir” or “yes, ma’am” when addressing their instructors and peers to practicing the martial bow, the importance of demonstrating good discipline during class is hard to miss. Perhaps even more important, an emphasis on self-control and self-discipline is also evident. Students learn to move on command, manage their emotions, and control their power when working with their peers.
3. It Teaches Confidence
Martial arts sets kids up for success by giving them a series of short-term goals that they can attain quickly while keeping them focused on the long-term goal of black belt. As parents, it’s so encouraging to see them develop stronger voices, carry themselves with more pride, and become advocates for themselves as they grow as martial artists. Through the course of their training, their confidence improves and they learn to believe that, with hard work and commitment, they can accomplish great things.
4. It Helps Them Avoid Dangerous Situations
Unfortunatly, parents today are no strangers to the idea that violence is a part of life. From bullying to child abduction, and even sex trafficking, keeping our kids safe is a major concern. One of the most important things martial arts teaches kids is how to be more aware of their surroundings and how to avoid putting themselves in potentially vulnerable situations. Clearly, the best way to avoid being a victim of violence is to not be there in the first place! Having said that, as responsible martial arts instructors, we also equip our students to be prepared to protect themselves from tricky people, if avoiding the situation is no longer an option. A solid martial arts program includes comprehensive self-protection training giving students the confidence they need to feel safe in everyday life.
5. It Creates Community
We’ve all heard that it takes a village to raise a child and any parent who’s ever struggled to find their tribe knows how true this can be. As parents, it feels great to see your kid quickly making friends during class. What is often unexpected is how quickly parents will befriend other parents within the academy community. Pretty soon, everyone is just as invested in seeing your kid succeed as you are. Imagine being part of a community of instructors, parents, and like-minded kids dedicated to helping your child become the best versions of themselves. It’s more than a village. It’s family.
It’s easy to wonder why martial artists bow. More than just tradition, the martial bow is a sign of mutual respect and humility still honored today.
To a new student just beginning their martial arts journey, it can first appear that they are constantly bowing.
Most schools expect their students to bow as they enter/exit the school, as they step on/off the training floor, at the start and end of each class, to their coach or instructor, and to their training partner.
But what is the significance of each bow?
In short, the bow is a way to practice showing respect and gratitude. Different styles will have different standards as to what the proper form of a bow looks like. At Invictus Martial Arts, students place their feet together and keep their hands at their side before they bend at the waist at a 45 degree angle. This is the most traditional form of a martial bow dating all the way back to 12th century Japan!
It is important to note that a bow at the neck or any bow from the waist that does not break the 45 degree plane does not carry the same meaning. While these less formal bows are not necessarily considered disrespectful, they simply serve as a form of acknowledgment rather than a display of respect or gratitude. For example, a bow at the neck or slow nod of the head most commonly means “hello” rather than “I respect you” or “I’m grateful for you”. That’s a pretty important distinction, isn’t it?!
It is common for some students to feel insecure or even embarrassed to bow at first because they are unfamiliar with the deep tradition and meaning behind the bow. Fortunately, there are several opportunities during each class to practice developing this important skill and the mindset that comes with it. Here’s a quick breakdown.
Bow To Show Respect
Bowing as you enter the academy and before stepping onto the training floor shows respect to your school, the style you train in, and your instructors. It’s also an acknowledgment of your intentions to give your best effort during your class. At the start of each class, instructors and students first bow to the flag out of respect for their country. Next, instructors and students bow to any spectators out of respect for their attention and support. Finally, instructors and students bow to each other as a sign of mutual respect and humility. During sparring or pad drills that require two students work together, partners will bow to each other as a way to signify they will train collaboratively with control and respect for each other’s wellbeing and development.
Bow To Show Gratitude
At the end of each partner drill, the two students that worked together bow to express gratitude for the learning and skill development they received from their partner. At the end of each training session the instructors bow first to the students expressing gratitude for their participation and dedication to their training. Students bow in return to express gratitude for the instruction and mentorship they received during their class. As students leave for the day, they bow at the front door with gratitude for their school and instructors.
It’s easy to see why martial artists bow once you understand their commitment to developing not only their martial arts skills but also their mindset.
Practicing respect and gratitude during each training sessions helps create an unbeatable mindset that will translate into more success and happiness in all areas of life. And who doesn’t want that?
Ready to try a FREE training session at Invictus? Click below for the class that interests you the most and get started for FREE…
