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Grade school can be quite the experience for any child. It is a place where a child not only learns academically but one where a child must learn to socialize and function in the world. Unfortunately, there are a lot of negative experiences that a child may have when going through school. Whatever those experiences may be, it would be a good idea to have a child participate in martial arts classes. Doing so will give them the tools they need to survive the school experience. The benefits associated with taking martial arts classes are essential for them to be able to have a positive experience in school. Helps them earn better grades in school Getting good grades is reflective of a child’s comprehension of the material. But, it is also indicative of their discipline and responsibility traits. Through martial arts, students are to learn the fundamentals of stretch and physical routines. They also learn to become disciplined with practice and keeping up with their cleanliness of uniforms. Children learn how to be punctual and can focus their daily thoughts on the tasks at hand. Thus, being able to exhibit these positive traits will translate to better grades as schooling requires the proficiency of these characteristics. Gives them the confidence to stand up to bullies Bullying is a very prominent and unfortunate experience that many children will either witness or become victims of in their lifetimes. Being a part of martial arts can give children the strength and confidence that they need to stand up to these negative individuals. Not only will they learn about self-defense strategies, they will be able to feel assertive and courageous. Possessing self-confidence is the number one way for a child to be able to stand up for him/herself in any threatening situation. Through martial arts, they will learn that not all conflicts have to be physical. They will possess the mature mindset to tackle any conflict with assurance and pride. Gives them the ability to make friends Having friends and keeping them can be the big difference between a positive and negative school experience for children. They will latch onto people who share common interests with them and feel devastated when those relationships disappear. However, for children who regularly practice martial arts, they have a different capacity to make and keep friends in their circle. Besides making friends in the martial arts classes themselves, children are able to easily socialize and collaborate with other students at school. They instill a lot of the same discipline and traits they learn from martial arts in their everyday lives. For instance, they may be first to initiate a conversation with quiet students because they feel confident in themselves to do so. Being a part of something special such as martial arts can be greatly impactful for children. Especially when it comes to school, children can gain invaluable skills and behaviors that will allow them to have more successful experiences in social settings. Although school is meant to teach them about a variety of things, having martial arts as a supplement can significantly affect the way they approach schooling and their overall experiences.

Every year, the American Heart Association celebrates Heart Month to raise awareness about heart disease and heart health. What you may not know is that martial arts are great for the heart. In fact, the cardiac benefits of martial arts give a whole new meaning to the idea of cardiovascular fitness. With that in mind, here are some ways that taking martial arts classes can protect and strengthen your heart. Martial Arts Raise the Heart Rate The first way that martial arts can help the heart is by raising your heart rate when you work out. The heart is a muscle and it needs to be worked. When you take a martial arts class, your heart rate is elevated. The benefit of raising the heart rate is that it oxygenates the blood, and helps promote calorie burning even after you’re done working out. People of all ages need to keep their hearts pumping, and martial arts is a great way to do it. Martial Arts Lower Blood Pressure Did you know that a high-intensity martial arts workout can help lower your blood pressure? It’s true. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a leading contributor to heart disease.  When you work out, your heart becomes stronger – and that means that it can pump blood more efficiently than it can without exercise. The less effort your heart has to expend on pumping blood, the lower your blood pressure is. Martial Arts Lower Cholesterol LDL cholesterol – the so-called “bad” cholesterol” – is a contributing factor in heart disease. Regular participation in martial arts helps you lose weight and that decreases the amount of LDL cholesterol in your blood. There’s evidence that working out also shrinks the proteins that carry cholesterol through the bloodstream, making them less dangerous to the heart. On a related note, regular vigorous exercise – such as the kind you get in a martial arts workout – helps to increase HDL or “good” cholesterol. Martial Arts Reduces Stress One thing that separates martial arts from many other forms of exercise is that it requires mental stillness combined with physical exertion. Mental stillness contributes to mindfulness, a practice that can significantly decrease stress and anxiety in both children and adults. Considering that there is a direct link between stress and heart health (stress contributes to high blood pressure and related issues), the fact that participating in martial arts can reduce stress is a huge benefit for the heart. Conclusion In addition to the benefits already mentioned, martial arts training also helps to improve discipline, build muscle coordination, and increase self-confidence. This month, why not give your heart a boost by adding martial arts to your workout routine?