| Cabot Martial Arts Academy |
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In today’s society, it is becoming harder and more complicated to understand what drives people to be happy or sad- Life is
moving so very fast, and moral decay (the bad guy) appears to be everywhere around us…in school, church, between friends,
sometimes even in the home. To get a grip on this idea (bad is all around us) a person needs a plan…a plan for happiness and
comfort. But now we must ask the question: is happiness real? Or is it just a fairy tale. Why does the world seem to be getting
harder and meaner, all the while it also feels like you just don’t fit in? There are many possible answers, but let’s narrow it down
to how Martial arts could be an example of what can go right. Perhaps the secret to being happy isn’t really a secret at all-perhaps
happiness is the outcome of proper physical fitness, proper nutrition, and a belief in something good. If this is so- let’s look at a
certain way of life that is not always accepted as being cool or popular. The following describes some ideals that every child/adult
must have to become a happy, productive citizen, and how Taekwondo helps attain these ideals.
Physical Fitness
A fit and healthy lifestyle is the accumulation of good habits. Four components make up a healthy lifestyle: exercise, nutrition, and
hygiene and grooming. Taekwondo helps with the exercise component and may provide assistance with the other two
components. Taekwondo instructors promote eating healthy and require students have proper hygiene and grooming while in
class.
Self-Control
Everyone must learn to "self-manage" their own actions. If parents do not establish boundaries, or if they establish boundaries and
are not consistent in enforcing them, they make it difficult for their children to learn self-control. Children get the idea that
boundaries are flexible. Taekwondo has rules of behavior that are strictly enforced. If children want to continue training and
competing with their friends, they must learn to control their behavior or pay the consequences. Goal setting is a natural outcome
of self control that can lead the student of any age to making great accomplishments all in a step-by-step plan.
Focus
Taekwondo teaches students to pay attention and block out distractions. Pattern practice demands that you block out distractions
and concentrate on making perfect motions. Sparring requires a student’s undivided attention at all times or they lose the match.
Respect
A disrespectful child gets no respect, so he or she turns that attitude inward and starts to see him or herself as a person who does
not deserve respect. Taekwondo teaches children to be respectful at all times to everyone, and that they earn respect in the same
measure that they give respect.
Confidence
Taekwondo helps students both young and old become experts at something, which then gives them more self-confidence.
Everybody knows that if you are good at something, you become confident in that thing, but that will confidence spill over into
other areas of your life.
Spiritual Development (For Children)
Traditionally, this is a task for parents. Taekwondo class can help, but parents still have the leader’s role in development to help
their children to develop and maintain a real relationship with God. Today, many believe that absolutes—wrong and right—do not
exist. So their children do not know the price they pay when they choose to disobey these absolutes. With no absolutes, we end
up teaching our kids about a "gray" area between black and white where people are free to define and choose their own sense of
right and wrong. However, children must be taught that they are not free to choose the consequences of their choice-only by
making correct decisions can one control the consequences of choice.
Honesty
Honesty is more than simply avoiding lies. It includes a belief in, and a pursuit of, the truth. Honesty is a sign of healthy self-
esteem, because an honest person takes responsibility for his or her actions. A person who feels good about him or herself has
no need to resort to deception. Taekwondo teaches students to be honest, even when it is not easy to do or is not the popular
thing to do.
Courage
If someone is constantly afraid, he or she feels less and less able to deal with his or her surroundings. Instead of experiencing
growth, the comfort zone shrinks and he or she withdraws from life. Courage determines how much freedom you experience. Fear
will hold you back and prevent you from trying new things, pursuing meaningful opportunities, and from living the life you are
meant to live. Taekwondo helps students face their fears and conquer them. As they gain more courage, they are not afraid to try
new things.
Contribution
Students are taught the joy of giving so they will become persons who contribute to society. Life rewards you in direct proportion
to your willingness to contribute. Taekwondo students learn to give assistance to new students or those with physical or mental
challenges and they learn community service. They learn that helping others makes you feel good about yourself.
Positive Outlook
Students should look at their lives positively, not negatively. Taekwondo instructors do not tell students they are doing a
technique wrong; they praise them and tell them how to improve the technique. As a result, students have a positive outlook about
their futures and feel capable of doing anything.
Responsibility
Taekwondo teaches students to take responsibility for their own actions, for assigned tasks, for new students, and for other
students of lower rank. As they learn responsibility, they are given more responsibilities.
Persistence
Sometimes, things in life do not come easily. Some students take longer to earn rank in Taekwondo than it does for others.
Taekwondo teaches us to not give up and we will succeed if we persist in our efforts.
What Can Martial Arts Offer You? |
