Why Martial Arts Can Bring Families Together

Families are not always a mom, a dad, and their kids.

Sometimes they are made up of one parent and a few kids, or another relative and kids. Sometimes the kids aren’t even blood relatives.

Fostering a child is a wonderful, amazing, and very selfless thing to do and benefits everyone.

The child gets a home – even if it is a temporary one – where he can feel safe and secure and loved.

The family gets to share time with a kid that needs a little time to come out of their shell and be a fun-loving kid once again.

Even the other kids in the family get the benefit of learning how to share, how to do good for others, and how to accept other people, no matter what their story might be.

Finding the Bridge to Better Family Connections

Sometimes kids and parents kind of drift apart. They may not be able to find anything they can both relate to.

Maybe work has pulled the parent away for so long that they feel like their child’s entire youth is just flashing by.

It’s a scary thought that your baby is getting close to the days where getting their driver’s license, going to college, and not needing you anymore are quickly approaching.

In the search for something that can bond everyone together again, don’t overlook active options like martial arts.

Since there are so many valuable skills that you can learn doing martial arts in general, it can be a great way to bring the entire family back together and create strong bonds and lasting memories.

Families with foster children benefit even more because the martial arts training can become a unique activity that everyone does as a team.

Working on new skills together can also be a great way for all of the kids to spend time together without electronics and without anyone feeling left out.

For more information, check out Evolve Daily and Penn State University.

Martial Arts Training for Self-Confidence

Shy children may tend to be ignored or worse, bullied.

Being able to gain the confidence needed to stand up for themselves is a skill that is worth any price.

Martial arts trains children to use their inner strength to face all challenges and build the strength to fight.

Furthermore, it also teaches them the ability to find better solutions so that they do not have to fight at all.

Knowing that they could knock a bully down is often enough for a kid to be able to face down someone and yet never have to raise a fist.

That self-confidence can translate to other parts of the child’s life, too, including his school work and more.

A foster child may be able to face his unique challenges with more resolve, as well.

Find out more information at Z Ultimate, and Urban Fit & Fearless.

The Bonding of Martial Arts

On the first day of martial arts training, the family might be nervous, unsure of what to expect when they walk into the dojo.

Once they meet the instructor and start learning the basics of what they are going to be doing, though, they begin to settle down.

After learning each of the new techniques and moves, the family might start to feel like they can take on anything, both together and separately.

Working together to practice gives the family even more to bond over.

This is a perfect opportunity to help a foster child feel included in your family.

Many families feel like they don’t know how to help properly integrate a new person into their family.

Family activities, especially ones where everyone is helping each other, is the perfect entry point.

This might be one of the first opportunities that a foster child has had one of their host families invest in their personal growth and learning like this, which can show the foster child that you really care about them and want them to succeed.

It’s essential to make a foster child feel welcome and safe in your family. You can use your lessons and practices together to help teach other life lessons that many other parents struggle talking to their kids about.

When children trust their parents and have an open and honest relationship with them, then they are more likely to go to them in times of need to receive guidance.

In addition to all of this, when the family isn’t training and practicing, they might also find that martial arts is a perfect topic for conversation.

More information: Social Work Today, Perpetual Fostering

Earning Belts and Winning Competitions

Martial arts ranks participants by the color of their belt. There are requirements that must be met to obtain the next color.

As children start earning new belts, they may also become interested in competing in martial arts tournaments. They might want to perform demonstrations in front of others.

The kids will learn to cheer on others as they meet and beat new challenges.

They might also encourage their parents to join in on the competition and to give demonstrations, as well.

More information: Champions Way

Learning About Inner Resolve

Martial arts is far from easy. There will be days when someone or even everyone in the family wants to just stop what they are doing and quit.

It might be a final skill they are trying to master before moving up to the next belt.

Maybe they are trying to finally manage a takedown of a sibling but just can’t seem to do it.

It’s crucial for parents to fight off the urge to give in because something is too hard. It’s important to stick it out and show the kids that they can fight through anything – internally or externally.

Digging deep into their inner strength for something physical can help kids learn about facing other situations that pop up in life.

They can learn to better control their emotions and their reactions to feelings better.

It can be a way to channel anger, sadness, and regret.

More information: Hemophilia Federation of America

Inspiring Others

The bonds that you are building in the dojo will travel with you wherever you go.

People will see your strong family unit and wish that they were that close to their kids or even their spouse.

Individually, people will wonder what you have done that makes you so strong and confident with the air and demeanor of a leader.

Parents will garner attention for appearing younger, stronger and calmer.

Everyone is going to ask about your secret formula for all of these positive changes.

Of course, there will be people that do not believe you. They may not “see” you as a martial arts type person.

Give them the information and invite them to bring their family to the dojo for their own bonding experience.

The more people in the community that you can get to learn the basics of martial arts – including self-discipline and respect – the better that everyone will be.

Stronger families mean a stronger society, and there cannot be enough of that in the world.

Every kick and strike at the dojo is another link in the chain of strength for your family.

As an individual, you will feel unstoppable, and as a part of a strong family, you will feel even more powerful.

Everyone benefits from martial arts training, and families with foster children benefit even more.