When it comes to filling your child’s after-school hours, there are a wide variety of activities that could round out their schedule. While many programs will offer value to your child, few can match the benefits of karate classes. Here’s a closer look at how participating in martial arts will benefit your child.

Top 3 Reasons to Enroll Your Kid in Karate Classes

1. Physical Fitness

With smartphones and tablets as a constant source of entertainment, it’s harder than ever to get kids away from the screen. Karate classes provide a fun opportunity for physical activity, helping your kids stay fit and develop a love for keeping active. Learning to enjoy these activities now will make it easier for them to lead a healthy life later.

2. Respect

Karate classes are based on respect for the sensei, or teacher. Students bow at the beginning and end of each session, and they must wait to act until receiving a command from their teacher. Even the simple process of waiting for other students to have their turn helps kids develop patience and respect, which will carry over to school and family life as well.

3. Mental Focus

Karate provides more than physical exercise—it also presents an opportunity to develop mental strength. The attention required to master skills in class helps kids become more focused and improve their concentration and self-control. Working up from a white belt also lets kids gain confidence and improve their self-esteem as they achieve their goals with hard work and dedication.

With karate classes for beginners and advanced students alike, there’s something for everyone at Japan Karate-Do Cincinnati in West Chester, OH. Led by 8th-degree black belt Hanshi Minobu Miki, the teachers at this facility help all participants grow physically and mentally through disciplined learning. To learn more about their karate lessons, visit them online or call (513) 860-4386.