| If you're like any good parent you no doubt enjoy | | | | because as you improve in ability and experience you |
| spending time with your kids and sharing some quality | | | | will constantly be exposed to the next level of |
| activities with them. This may include kicking a soccer | | | | content. This will ensure that there is always |
| ball around the back yard, going to the local park for | | | | something new to learn and always something |
| some pitching practice, or putting some cool music on | | | | different to practice. This progressive content is |
| in your front room and trying out your new hip-hop | | | | introduced systematically so as not to overwhelm |
| groove. However, how many actual opportunities are | | | | beginning students and also in order to continually |
| there for families to participate together in the same | | | | challenge intermediate and advanced students. |
| class doing something that is beneficial to all involved? | | | | · Spirituality and Philosophy |
| The martial arts offer one such opportunity. | | | | There is some very valuable philosophy in the martial |
| There is a phrase used in the martial arts industry | | | | arts that is beneficial to both children and adults and |
| and it says that, "A family that kicks together, sticks | | | | the opportunity to study this as a family can lead to |
| together". This saying may sound a little cheesy, but | | | | some very worthwhile and interesting discussions at |
| more and more families are discovering the | | | | the dinner table. |
| immeasurable benefits of sharing a common bond | | | | Each of these different aspects have relevance to all |
| and a common activity between parents and children. | | | | ages, and consequently parents and children are |
| So how exactly does karate practice provide these | | | | finding that the martial arts offer a very enjoyable |
| benefits? | | | | and challenging family activity to all who participate. |
| Karate is a challenging activity regardless of age. It | | | | There is nothing like having a training partner to |
| offers a great workout, useful and practical | | | | encourage you along the way and with Mom, Dad, |
| self-defense skills, progressive content that is | | | | Brother and Sister all training together, each individual |
| structured according to ability and a spiritual and | | | | will be able to bring different views of the same |
| philosophical side that can provide many other | | | | activity to the overall experience, which can only lead |
| worthwhile benefits. Let's look at each of these | | | | to better communication and understanding between |
| things. | | | | family members. |
| · Great workout | | | | Like anything else doing karate as a family will not be |
| Karate practice is an excellent workout. Within any | | | | without its challenges, but in general there are only |
| lesson practitioners get to use multiple muscle groups | | | | good things to say about the benefits of going to |
| and body parts in many different ways through the | | | | your local karate school and starting a journey as a |
| warm-up and warm-down activities and the various | | | | family to improved health and fitness and fun times |
| technique drills and partner work drills. It also gets | | | | for all. |
| your heart pumping which leads to increased | | | | If there are any families reading this who would like |
| cardio-vascular strength. | | | | to share your experiences of training together I |
| · Useful and practical self-defense skills | | | | would be very interested to hear your stories. Just |
| Self-defense is an integral part of the martial arts. | | | | e-mail me at |
| Different martial arts will place a different level of | | | | If you want some more tips on how to make a |
| emphasis on self-defense depending on the type of | | | | successful start in your karate practice then check |
| program they are offering but you can be sure that | | | | out my FREE Report "Karate for Newcomers: How |
| during your study you will learn some useful and | | | | To Find Out Everything You Need to Know to Start |
| practical skills that will be relevant to your age and | | | | Your Karate Practice". You will find out how to |
| ability. | | | | download it at |
| · Progressive content | | | | Good luck and best wishes on your journey in karate. |
| This is a very important aspect of martial arts training | | | | |