Martial arts good for low confidence?

[summersbysea]

I'm having the kids for most of the summer as the ex is going away on his hols.
They are 7 and 5 and I think partially the break up and lockdown with them being indoors they have developed low confidence and someone suggested martial arts.

I have no clue where to start, I took them to this place near us (don't even ask me to pronounce it!)

The teachers and students were so super good, so warm welcoming, friendly and showed kids throwing and putting painful locks on their arms. They even did games with them at the end.
My kids gradually joined in after much ushering!

But before buying licences fees and uniforms is it worth it? does it develop character as people say and any particular types I should try as don't want to hand over loads of money to be wasted.

The instructor at this place was a gem he knew I didn't know anything and said my kids and even me ! Can do up to six lessons free (normally it's two) before we commit.

The teacher and his coaches had such great character so friendly, humble yet they were big tall men who could easily wrap up three men into origami if they messed with them!

Any advice ?

I would go for it. Two of my kids did martial arts from about that age, and it gave them the air of confidence that you could see when they walked around. Also other kids at school knew that they did it, and there was never any issues with bullying. Other very useful attributes that they got from it were self discipline, focus and concentration, all of which helped them academically. Exercise and fitness also comes into it strongly.
And if they enjoy it, it will keep them happy and reduce the time on ipads!

Yes go for it! Mine do martial arts. It’s great for discipline, confidence and importantly it’s teaching you to defend yourself.

Do Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (it sounds like that’s what it might have been). It’s more practical than other more artistic martial arts and doesn’t involve any kicking or punching. Great for kids’ self esteem and confidence.

Fight the Good Fight amzn.eu/d/2kHfAQe
^ read this, you will be tempted to take it up yourself!

I started with my DD and it's great. We've been doing it for 3 years now and it is very good for confidence, fitness and focus.

It absolutely does, a good trainer/instructor goes way beyond physical conditioning and achievement - DS started martial arts classes at 5 with an absolutely lovely coach who also ties in behavioural goals for kids with their lessons (so you explain what they're struggling with, for example sitting quietly in class, and he gives them a set of goals for you or their teacher to sign off to get an achievement certificate alongside their next belt). He includes tips on assertiveness, meditation, flexibility, focus, and you regularly graduate up a belt or tag, you even keep getting new goals set after black belt so you've always got a realistic goal in sight, and a sense of achievement and progress which is fantastic for confidence. You'll probably find they have a strict code of conduct as well so students are all expected to treat each other with kindness and respect, and help and encourage each other. DS and DH are now both studying tae kwon do and Korean kickboxing and I've started classes recently too.

Ours did karate & judo from a young age. They enjoyed it not just from the self defense aspect but we found the groups to be friendly and generally nice. They made more long term friends at martial arts than at school. On the defense side one of the instructors told them the best defense was to avoid getting into the situation.

My daughter has been doing Taekwondo since she was 4, she's now almost 9.

It helps so much with character and confidence and building good values.

At heart I wanted her in a tutu doing ballet but DH was passionate about taekwon and what it could do for her, as he also does it.

It is absolutely brilliant!

Handy side effect: she will also hopefully be able to kick the ass of anyone who ever tries to hurt her

Lol I have no idea on these names I'll have to check next time we go. It also looks painful as they do throws and then on the ground strangles wrestling..I was just worried bless they'd get hurt

Any names that I should know off and are the exams or tests for different colours worth it

I'm interested in this. What is it they do that builds rhe confidence !?

Yes! I love it. DS (6) and I are training at the same studio now.

Want to get our DS into capoeira, but classes are an hour and half away

I couldn't really say but I think it's a combination of;

It's a fun set of skills to learn

It builds physical fitness and balance so you are more confident you could handle a physical situation (even if that's just by disabling an aggressor and running away). You also look better as it builds muscle and makes you toned.

It's a nice group environment, you are often working with a partner, there are plenty of chances to chat with people

BJJ and Judo are great for kids and adults!

My ds has done Karate (shotokan variety) from age 5 - 14. A mix of general fitness, co-ordination and self defence.

Good for his confidence, lots of fun and good role model provided by the Sensei.

My DC do ju jitsu. The Sensai is brilliant with the children. We have to pay for their Gi (uniform), plus gradings which is where they get their next colour belt and any extra skills classes that might be put on. There is a syllabus for each belt and they only get put forward for the next colour when they’re ready.

I wouldn’t worry about the throws and holds as they get taught how to do them properly. The first belts are more about blocking and how to fall. I’m really pleased my DC do it. It’s great for them.

My DS is small for his age and has being doing martial arts since he was four. He’s now training for his black belt and working really hard to achieve it. I strongly believe that it has been the making of him. School sports focus mostly on biggest, strongest, and fastest as winners, not flexibility, precision, or discipline, and if he hadn’t found martial arts he would have left school believing he was crap at sports. He’s a funny, popular, kind, kid and a lot of that comes from the confidence he has from knowing he’s really good at something. He also helps train lower belts which is also a great confidence builder.

Anything like this in the Midlands

@summersbysea

Why in the Midlands are you?

My ds has gone kickboxing for the last 6 years and it's really built his confidence and resilience. He has a fab teacher who as well as teaching the kids the physical techniques, will talk to them about how to avoid confrontation and bullies etc. It's given him commitment and a way of making friends outside of school as well as keeping him fit.

Ju jitsu My DS and DD did it. It is more about defence than attack.

Both have never felt intimidated by others because they know that they can defend themselves.

The instructor at this place was a gem he knew I didn't know anything and said my kids and even me ! Can do up to six lessons free (normally it's two) before we commit.

The teacher and his coaches had such great character so friendly, humble

You don't need to ask if it's worth it.
Your kids had a great time, you got a great vibe, & as to asking if it's character-building - just look at what YOU have said about the characters of the teacher & coaches. Those are the characters you want influencing your DC!
They sound like great role models.

Take this guy up on his free lessons offer - it's very generous - & watch your DC blossom.

Are you going to join in too?