Karate can play a critical role in your child’s health, both mentally and physically. What is more, when parents participate along with their child, karate can enrich relationships and set adults and children up for success. Master Nelson Nathaniel, founder and owner of Austin Karate Center in Belterra, shares how:
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Decrease Digital Consumption. “When I see a kid on a device and others are conversing and interacting, that tells me there is a big disconnect between the parent and that child,” Nathaniel says. He encourages families to put technology away for one to two hours per day and focus on yourself and your child. Karate is a great avenue to unplug together.
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Develop Mental Endurance. Karate helps adults and kids endure fear and discomfort. Nathaniel explains, “Here you have to confront your fear and learn to control pain … the student begins to understand, ‘this hurts, but I can go past it.’ Mind over matter.” Although fighting can be scary at first, “once you understand how to protect, block, defend, or move, you start to understand who you are,” he continues. “Pressure is what is going to allow us to grow.”
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Parental Involvement. Nathaniel finds that kids whose parents do martial arts improve quickly. “It’s because Mom and Dad have brought themselves down to the level of the kids and shown them, ‘I’m just like you; I’m a beginner too.’ These families are super tight.”
And it’s not just about the kids. Parents who own businesses or are in high-stress work positions find that they can relieve their own anxiety with the lessons learned in karate. “This is understanding how to deal with pressure. Fighting puts other pressure into perspective and learning how to control what you can control instead of feeling helpless,” Nathaniel concludes.
Karate teaches students of all ages to respect others, which then translates to self-respect. It is not a fast process; it requires consistency and support from parents. Nathaniel states, “We partner with parents to grow strong leaders!”
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