Karate for your Kids

Information on Karate for Kids in South Africa

Could your kids benefit from some additional discipline and focus?

If they need some help developing life skills and want to increase their strength and agility, karate might be the sport for them. Karate focuses on a number of core values such as:

• Respect
• Discipline
• Courtesy
• Integrity
• Self control
• Dedication
• Friendship
• Mental focus

Karate can improve kids’ confidence and self esteem, as well as teaching valuable self defence techniques. Karate provides an opportunity for kids to practice their technical skills in a safe environment, while being supervised by qualified instructors. Lessons can start from age 5.

Karate also promotes fitness and can help kids develop their co-ordination. One of the first things kids learn is how to fall and roll safely on karate mats and these early lessons can be very helpful with confidence building for children who tend to be a little fearful of being hurt in sporting activities. It’s also a sport that recognises progression and learning by way of awarding various coloured belts, giving children something to strive for and a sense of achievement.

How can you organise Karate lessons and matches for your kids?

Are you confused by the array of karate schools in your area? There are many different Karate styles although most share similar values. It might be a good idea to take your child along to a few and see how they get on. Not all kids’ activities are suited to every child and not all karate schools will work for your child. Karate lessons usually run for term periods and costs are around $900 per student per term. Uniforms cost extra and most other equipment will be provided by the school.

If there are no karate schools in your area, there may be other forms of martial arts such as Jiu-jitsu or Aikido which could be suitable for your child. The skills learned during karate may be transferred over to other areas of your child’s life such as academic work and cleanliness so there can be benefits for everyone!