“My goal is to become the best person I can be. I will achieve this objective by disciplining my body and my mind – working to overcome obstacles that hinder my positive growth. I know this will take discipline. I am ready to make this commitment to myself in order to become the best person I can be and to share this progress with others.” This is the Douvris Martial Arts student creed.

Establishing Confidence Through Karate for Kids

One’s level of success oftentimes directly relates to their level of self-confidence. Being mindful of a goal, your abilities, and the actions required to achieve that goal is clearly displayed in many forms throughout the art of karate for kids. This couples closely with a balance of self-discipline and overall confidence. Self-discipline is being in the mindset of what you want and what is required you can attain those things. Whereas confidence is the feeling and belief that you can succeed and attain those things. At Douvris, it’s a goal of ours to have the balance of these two to be prevalent in all of our student’s minds. For one, it is very beneficial in succeeding in the dojo. But most importantly, it is a core mindset that can lead to success throughout one’s schooling, work ethic, and entire life.

Teaching Manners Through Karate for Kids

Manners developed through the art of karate have a funny way of showing both at the forefront, as well as sitting hidden in one’s mind. Traits like respect, service, honesty are just a few of the integral pillars of karate. As both an individual and teamwork sport, how one treats both themself internally, and others externally are very important. These traits though developed young and in the dojo, help to shape how one carries themself throughout their life and with everyone that they meet.

This all begins with respect. Respect, being how one not only treats others but how they treat themself. As one grows, the idea of respect does too. This idea can squish, re-shape, and form into many new things, but establishing the idea of it early on through karate for kids is key for everyday life.

Secondly, service comes into play. Following closely with respect and too growing with age, this is one of the most inclusive traits that can be taught in the dojo and carried throughout life. Being of service refers to what you give to others, valuing their needs as much as your own. Oftentimes referred to as the ‘helping out others in need’ method. Having respect for someone and helping them out when they are in need while expecting nothing in return is of one of the highest levels of ‘proper manners’. Lastly, honesty – the best policy. A trait that we can all agree is deemed gold thought life is best shown when taught young. Being fair and truthful to your peers and accepting one’s consequences when mistakes are made are vital in growing relationships. Whether in the dojo, with family, or in years to come when in a relationship- the core values learned young remain at the forefront.

Creating a Positive Attitude Through Karate for Kids

Ironically, one of the pivotal elements in early development through karate for kids is failure. It is not so much the action of failure, but it is what comes after that. That being, how one handles their failures with their sense of humility. In life, and in the dojo as kids, it is very easy to let discouragement take over when you cannot accomplish something that is important to you. However, being mindful of your fallbacks can in turn create a very clear pathway to success through positivity.

Celebrating one’s achievements is what we all know and love in the dojo. However, failures are inevitable. Combining one’s level of humility and their strive for excellence is a recipe that is heavily emphasized in the art of karate.

Excellence is practiced by:

• Having high goals and aim to work towards them.
• Always expecting the best from yourself.
• Always striving to be better.

In turn, excellence can be balanced while practicing humility by:

• Admitting your mistakes and learning by them.
• Valuing other people’s thoughts and opinions as much as your own.

Implementing these traits early on through the art of karate for kids has the likelihood of them sticking throughout one’s entire life. Although all traits can take on new forms, the core remains true to you.

Final Notes

We all know the saying that ‘children are like sponges’. Although true in some ways more good than bad, we so admire the good. The art of karate for kids has the ability to cement into one’s early development and create long-lasting lifelong skills needed for success.

Please note this article is based on our own thoughts and have not been formally approved by a healthcare or fitness professional.