WHY KIDS SHOULD STUDY KARATE

With a bloodcurdling cry,your 6-year old leaps in to the air in a karate kick,raising your hair and blood pressure simultaneously.Before you panic and pad the walls,try channeling this urge into a martial arts class.
Activities like tae kwon do , kung fu and aikido are a fun way for both boys and girls to achieve fitness and focus.Some parents may think they also promote,but that's a myth,according to experts.The martial arts actually help teach self discipline and socialization skills.In fact,many parents whose children have attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) report great success with these programs because self-control and concentration are exactly the skills underdeveloped in ADHD kids.
A typical hour long class begins and ends with a bow to the teacher or master.After a warm-up,students practice the art's particular skills,which may include kicks,punches and blocks.Each requires concentration and strict attention.

Progress is often marked by the belt system,which takes the beginner from a white belt through a variety of colors until black.Testing for each new level,generally every three months,is a good exercise in setting and achieving goals.
But,say experts,it's the respect kids learn,whether from bowing or standing still and waiting for the next command,that can be most important benefit : It often carries over into school,helping to improve behavior and even grades,according to recent research.

"Six is usually a good age to start classes",say Mimi Johnson, M.D. a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on sports Medicine and fitness.By that time a child should have enough muscle control to punch and turn properly and safely.. Essential to getting a real kick out of the martial art he chooses.