Why Taekwondo Is Important For Kids

Parents should pay special attention to the formative years of their children’s lives, as this is when kids are most impressionable. Thus, their experiences during their childhood will set the tone for their growth and development. 

Among the most important choices parents should make are the after-school activities of their children. In Australia, martial arts like Taekwondo are popular activities many children enrol in. While this may be an extremely physical sport, it does not automatically mean that it is unsafe. Read more to know why a sport like Taekwondo is vital for kids in Australia. 

What is Taekwondo?

Taekwondo is a traditional martial art that specialises in both punching and kicking techniques. More than just being a physical sport, Taekwondo also focuses on the discipline of a person and the training of their body and mind. With the right training centre, kids can build their physique, learn how to protect themselves, and understand the value of self-discipline. 

Children can learn Taekwondo as early as possible, from the basic elements to eventually sparring and practising forms. There are many systems and principles children can learn through Taekwondo. 

Is Taekwondo safe for children?

No sport is totally safe. However, Taekwondo is a type of sport that even toddlers can participate in. This martial arts form does not just focus on teaching children how to fight. Instead, smaller kids will learn power and control through the basic elements of the sport. As they grow and develop, only then will trainers allow them to partake in safe sparring sessions. 

As such, with the correct guidance, Taekwondo is a safe sport to enrol in. Parents just need to make sure that they find coaches they can trust. 

What are the physical benefits of Taekwondo?

Enrolling kids in Taekwondo lessons will benefit them physically. Here are some of the advantages parents can look forward to when they enrol their children in Taekwondo classes:

• Improved physical condition

Learning Taekwondo will make your children have a full-body workout. It activates every part of a child’s body, making them stronger and healthier through each session. For slimmer kids, this will help them build strength and muscle. For kids on the heavy side, this will help them be physically healthier. 

• Improved cardiovascular health

Practising Taekwondo improves a child’s cardiovascular health. This is important as it allows blood to properly flow through the body. The blood supplies nutrients and oxygen throughout the body. A healthy blood flow helps prevent heart diseases and lower the risk for cardiovascular complications in the future. 

• Knowledge in self-defence

Taekwondo better equips children to defend themselves. Kids are small and vulnerable, so it is difficult to imagine what would happen if they meet insidious personalities. Parents can have some peace of mind that their children are somehow prepared for unavoidable circumstances in the future.

Does Taekwondo have behavioural benefits?

Yes, children who practice Taekwondo will have better chances of demonstrating disciplined behaviour towards everyone and even towards themselves. Some of the behavioural benefits of learning Taekwondo include the following:

• It builds self-confidence and self-esteem.

Confidence stems from a person’s satisfaction in their own selves. With the help of Taekwondo, children can build up their confidence bit by bit. This helps them have a healthy sense of self-esteem as they grow and develop. 

This will also allow them to be more comfortable in many situations – whether they are in danger or are practising tasks outside their areas of comfort. It builds them up mentally so that they can face uncertainty with their head held high.

• It teaches them great values.

The art of Taekwondo goes beyond just teaching children how to kick and punch. They also learn important values as they learn this type of martial arts. For example, they will understand the importance of practice and working hard. They can also become less aggressive towards others since this sport does not encourage impulsive fights. 

• It teaches them discipline and self-control.

Taekwondo imparts on children the value of training until they get their forms correctly. It teaches them how to focus and devote themselves to the process so they can progress through the various levels of mastery. This also involves practising control and self-restraint during sparring sessions. Eventually, these children can also apply the discipline they’ve learned to real-life situations. 

What social benefits should children expect to learn from Taekwondo?

Apart from physical and behavioural benefits, learning Taekwondo also has social benefits. Here are some of the most important social benefits kids can look forward to when they learn Taekwondo:

• Taekwondo teaches children the value of respect.

Children have coaches and teachers during Taekwondo lessons. In this sport, pupils must treat their coaches with respect and follow their teachings religiously. At the same time, this sport also teaches children to respect others. Therefore, they treat their co-students with grace and control, especially during sparring sessions. 

• It helps them work better with others.

Taekwondo is technically not a team sport. Yet, learning Taekwondo will help children have a better sense of teamwork. That’s because as children rise the ranks to get new belts, they need the help of their peers to improve. From practising forms and techniques together to doing friendly sparring sessions, children will have a better sense of coordination with others through Taekwondo. 

• It improves their socialisation skills. 

Taekwondo teaches the value of teamwork and coordinating well with other kids. Working well with others will help them achieve their goals, and it can help them sort their strengths and weaknesses. This also allows children to meet new people and eventually have them as friends. 

Taekwondo teaches children how to socialise with adults like coaches, and how to also deal with people their age. With this sport, children will be able to have healthier interactions with people outside their social sphere. 

Enrol your kids in Taekwondo lessons

Taekwondo allows children to grow and develop holistically — physically, behaviourally, and socially. If you want to help your children find a life skill activity that will build them up for success, Taekwondo is the way to go!

Here at Team Carlo, we can support your kid and help them develop skills and values they can use for their everyday living. So, reach out to us at Info@teamcarlo.com.au or 1800 teamcarlo (1800 832 622) to book your free trial.