What children can get from martial arts – really

The question of “Should we teach children to fight?” was never the question of a true martial arts teacher.  Instead, they focused on all the ways a child would learn to never fight from the start.  How to be a strong member of the local community.  How to react under tough pressure.  How to do the right thing, especially when no one’s watching.  How to master non-violence.

With all the punches, kicks and competition, it’s easy to forget the level of spirituality within martial arts.  Despite the common criticism that mixed martial arts (MMA) gets, one cannot deny how many fighters talk about thanking God, honoring a “bushido” code and even dedicating fights to their lost loved ones.  Among properly trained martial artists, spirituality is well-displayed inside the cage or ring across the world.  In fact, many cultures use full-contact fighting in the martial arts as a way to honor their ancestors.  

After beginning my own training, I quickly learned during times I knocked out or got knocked out, there was something much deeper to strive for underneath the surface of combat.  It becomes quite clear early on, you are really facing yourself, whether in a ring or the dojo. It also becomes clear the choice of full-contact fighting is an individual one, nothing more.

Yes, our school does full-contact training, but no, we do not push anyone to take part; it entices some adults while not others.  But however one chooses to train, at the end of the day, our instructors realize we all need to raise families, take care of crises, face serious obstacles in life and be able to introspect ourselves.  And someday our children will need to do these things too.  This is why we focus heavily on “mat chats” and homework for our younger students, using carefully-made curriculums to properly shape their character and judgement over time.  Self-defense is an important piece, but it’s still just a piece.

Look at the greatest warriors – they were as spiritual as they were mental and physical.  The only thing more impressive than Bruce Lee’s fighting was his philosophy as he famously said “Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one”.  Or Miyamoto Musashi, one of the greatest swordsman ever, who wrote in The Book of Five Rings on the spiritual process of learning to comprehend that which you cannot perceive in life.  Martial arts helped mold world leaders, including presidents Theodore Roosevelt, Barack Obama to Dwight D. Eisenhower and countless musicians, business owners, artists and celebrities whom credit the discipline it offers to drive them forward. 

Children tend to be sheltered from the world nowadays, not to mention the epidemic of childhood obesity, bullying, helicopter parents and the dangerous idea that everyone needs to be the winner all the time.  Martial arts, while creating a “team” environment in the dojo, is really an individual journey in the end.  You lose, you win, you fall, you get up, you struggle, you triumph.  Children need confidence but they also need humility.  We need a stronger focus on the youth.  Look at the teen suicides, school shootings and drug epidemic.  Of course there are multiple factors contributing to these societal problems, but an excellent mentor focusing on discipline and self-control is one more layer of strong protection.  In most martial arts programs, on the surface, children will get:

• speed
• flexibility
• strength
• self-defense
• confidence
• discipline

But what they really develop over time in an excellent program is:

• self-sufficiency
• the conviction to do what is right
• perseverance
• indomitable spirit
• individuality
• compassion

Sports teams are great, but nothing pushes individualism like having to stand alone on your own two feet and physically defend yourself.  And this evolves into learning to take on life’s daily challenges.  As adults and parents, we know we cannot always be there with our kids, but we can instill values, life lessons and spiritual resolve that keeps them on the right path, even when no one’s watching. 

My own instructors and I feel so strongly about this, that in addition to our own martial arts business, we spent years creating Army of Saints, a non-religious, non-political 501c3 nonprofit, which continually builds and improves secondary school teaching curriculums for grades 7 and up.  Our material is 100% free, online and available to anyone at www.communicationplatform.org; it’s made for teachers of Physical Education and health to use in their daily gym and health classes so we can reach all students.   

We blend martial arts training (with no physical contact, of course) and philosophy into complete Phys. Ed. and health curriculums that meet US national educational objectives with a superior anti-drug anti-violence focus.  We are an entirely free unfunded service, and do not accept donations of any kind – just the desire of parents, school teachers and administration to start using our free curriculums engineered to make a real difference in their communities.

The fact that martial arts exists as such a unique package to deliver such a beautiful thing to children is something I am very grateful for.  I hope more of society can soon appreciate this and take advantage of it.   

-Ryan Gilbert

Founder and Director of Army of Saints 501c3 (www.communicationplatform.org) and Building Body Mind Soul, LLC (www.ironmartialartsonline.com)

PS: If you liked this, share it. Maybe it will eventually lead to another school teacher finding out about us, using our free material.  And maybe it will change yet another child’s life.