When it comes to being the average kid, confidence is something that must be developed at an early age. Only a very few kids seem to have a natural sense of self confidence that lets them face the challenges of life head on. You may have heard from a number of sources that the practice of any one of many martial arts can be a very good way to help build confidence in a kid, but what is it about them that has such an effect on the young psyche?
There are a number of different ways is which in you can give a kid the confidence he needs to do things like stand up in front of a class of his peers to give a speech or to deal with the bully who simply will not leave him alone. One of the best ways to begin instilling this sense of self-confidence in your child or for that matter any child is to enroll them in a martial arts class such as an MMA class, Tai Chi or kickboxing appropriate for their age group.
You will find that with any child, a sense of accomplishment or being able to successfully complete a simple task is the beginning step in developing their sense of self-confidence. For example in the average martial art, one of the first things any new student regardless of age is taught is how to perfect the attention stance. While this may be a very simple posture, the concept of being able to follow directions and achieve the stated goal allows the student to feel the success and pride that comes with doing so.
You find that even for a three year old kid, the confidence that comes from mastering such a simple task is worth its weight in gold. The attention stance is one of feet together, hands by their sides and head held high, by teaching a child to stand in such a confident posture, you will find that the mere stance alone can instill a sense of confidence that they may never have been able to achieve before. Scientific research shows that in many instances the position we hold our bodies in has a major impact on our emotions and that by standing in a confident manner; we all tend to act far more confidently.
Once the child in question has mastered this simple position, the next thing he is likely to learn is a defensive move. Being a little more complex in nature, these moves will take more time to master and as such will help the child to develop their level of confidence. A kid needs to know that they are good at something in life in order to develop that sense of self-worth and confidence that is going to carry them through the trials and tribulations of life.
Continued training and more complex moves in martial arts training can give a kid the confidence they have been missing out on. The goal of any martial arts program is not only to teach a student how to perform each form or movement, but to instill in them the sense of self-confidence needed to perform them well under any circumstances. This very valuable lesson can not only be applied to their choice of martial arts, but to every aspect of their lives.
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