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Martial Arts has many benefits, but also has hidden bonuses that include many life lessons.

For a child the benefits are numerous. Many pre-school age children are able to participate in Martial Arts where they couldn't in any other sport because of their age and ability. In Martial Arts pre-schoolers are able to enjoy the things that they like to do such as kicking, jumping, being able to punch on a bag. They get to learn balance, coordination, memory and discipline, things kids their age are needing as a basic foundation not only for karate but also for life. The hidden bonus is that children this age love doing it and will do their best to show it off at test time.

Kids ages 7-12 benefit from the physical activity, bully prevention that is often taught in classes and of course the self-defense. The hidden bonuses are the confidence that is built from the achievements earned along with focus that blends over into homework. All my Jr. Black Belts that are in this age range are either straight A students or A-B students. Martial Arts has taught them the discipline to stick it out and to stay focused when it comes to school work.

Adults come to Martial Arts looking mostly for physical benefits and find out they receive much more than expected. Martial Arts renews and adds to their confidence, helps them deal with anger management and many times helps them resolve issues in a more peaceful way. The hidden bonus is that martial arts teaches success management and goal achievement in a person's life in knowing that helping others get what they want is the first step to success in karate, as well as life. Martial Art's basic foundation is the belt system, but it is far more than that, it is a goal system set up to help teach others how to set and achieve their own goals.

The benefits of Martial Arts are simple: physical fitness means better health, self-defense means safety, and earning higher belt levels will reinforce goal setting and achievement for even the youngest of karateka.

The bonuses are many times hidden when you first start Martial Arts, but even after 1 month they start revealing themselves in so many positive ways that the practitioner didn't even realize when he first started. Martial Arts: Benefits and hidden Bonuses that are well worth your time and expound with life lessons.

Learn more about this author, Mike Webb.
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