Are you looking to get your child involved in martial arts but are unsure where to start? If you’re anything like me, you probably logged into Google and typed “kids martial arts near me” or “What is the best martial art for kids?” and were overwhelmed by the sheer number of results. This was my experience eight years ago when my eldest daughter began her martial arts journey. I knew I wanted her to train but didn’t know much else about martial arts. Unfortunately for me, we learned most of our lessons through trial and error.
Over the next few weeks, I will release articles comparing the most popular martial arts in North America with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), the fastest-growing martial for kids in North America. In this series, I’ll explore the benefits of different martial arts for kids and compare them to kids BJJ. After reading this series, you should know the benefits of martial arts for kids, have a basic understanding of the most popular kids' martial arts, and have a clear picture of why BJJ is the best martial for kids (in my humble and only slightly biased opinion). At the end of the day, I hope this will help you to avoid some of the mistakes I made.
The Benefits of Martial Arts for Kids
Before we get too deep into things, I’d like to say that there are clear benefits to training in any martial art. Martial arts offer a range of benefits for kids of all ages, including:
- Physical fitness: Martial arts classes provide a full-body workout that can improve your child's strength, coordination, flexibility, and cardiovascular endurance.
- Self-defence: Kids martial arts classes teach valuable self-defence skills that can help your child stay safe in real-life situations.
- Character development: Martial arts classes emphasize important values like discipline, respect, self-control, and perseverance, which can help your child develop good character traits.
- Mental health: Martial arts classes can also help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression while increasing focus and mental resilience.
Why BJJ is Ideal for Kids
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is an excellent martial art for kids because it emphasizes technique, leverage, and practicality. Here are some key benefits of BJJ for kids:
- Technique over strength: BJJ is a ground-based martial art that emphasizes technique and leverage over brute strength. This makes it ideal for kids of all sizes and abilities, as they can use their opponents' weight and momentum against them to achieve victory.
- Self-defence: BJJ is an effective self-defence martial art that teaches kids how to defend themselves against larger opponents. This can help boost your child's confidence and sense of security.
- Problem-solving skills: BJJ requires strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, which can help your child develop better cognitive abilities and mental flexibility.
- Mental resilience: BJJ classes can also help kids develop mental toughness and resilience, as they learn to cope with setbacks, failures, and challenges.
Comparing BJJ with Other Martial Arts for Kids
While BJJ has many unique benefits, it's important to consider other martial arts as well. Here's how BJJ compares to other popular martial arts for kids:
- Karate, Taekwondo, Kung Fu: Karate, Taekwondo, and Kung Fu are striking-based martial arts that teach kids how to punch, kick, and block. They are great for improving cardiovascular fitness and building self-confidence, but they may not be as effective for self-defence against larger opponents.
- Judo: Judo is a grappling-based martial art that emphasizes throws and takedowns. It can be an effective self-defence martial art for kids, but it may require more strength and athleticism than BJJ.
As we move through this series, I’ll deep dive into the comparison of BJJ and the martial arts listed above and will share local options for each. When it’s all said and done, you should have a clear picture of the kids martial arts landscape in Orleans, Ontario and a solid understanding of why BJJ is a great option for your child 😁
If you’re ready to start your child’s martial arts journey or have any questions, schedule a call today!