Why is Martial Arts the Best After-School activity in London

London is one of the most vibrant cities in the world, and with that, comes a lot of different activities to choose from.

So, why should you be getting your child martial arts lessons?

Martial arts : A sport, an artistic and intellectual activity

Have fun, and learn a life skill!

Every activity, whether it’s a sport, an artistic activity or something more intellectual is a plus for your child development. 

The sport based activity will obviously develop physical skills,

coordination, fighting spirit, frustration at times… discipline and so more!

The artistic activity will boost creativity, outside the box thinking, focus, the ability of expressing oneself in the form you would like to. Great!

The intellectual activity will develop focus, complex thinking, decision making, resilience, overcoming failures and limitations.

But what if martial arts was a combination of those three activities! A sport with an artistic dimension within an intellectual backbone?

Let me explain that somewhat surprising definition.

Time to break a sweat!

Power and accuracy

Obviously, martial arts are a sport. A strenuous physical activity I might add. The training is a full body workout, there to support your body to be your first line of defense in the case of an attack. You build muscles and stamina to be able to move yourself freely in the world surrounding us. Blending grace, strength and  efficiency. The press ups and burpees, the planks and the splits, the kicks and punches. All those exercises to build a body that is able to

move freely and  to combine speed, power, strength and stamina! Yes, martial arts are a sport.

Let's thrive for beauty and form

Is it an art though? It would be too obvious to point to the name and to mockingly say that it’s written on it! Duh! No, I won’t do that…I’d rather explain why I do think this is an artistic form. More so with traditional martial arts than combat sports to be completely accurate. 

First, the search for the perfect movement. Even though it’s a chimera, we all learnt pretty young in our lives that no such things as “perfect" exist on this planet. But let’s not be too philosophical here. 

Working on the perfect form

The technical form and its beauty are closely related. And by looking to make or to perform a movement with the intention of making it beautiful, with the intention of making it efficient, with the intention of perfecting it like a sculptor will with its statue, you’re, all of a sudden entering the art world realm. 

F = m.a : let's memorise that formula

It is certainly not an intellectual activity! Isn’t it really? At different levels you’re using your brain when practicing martial arts. Remembering combinations or forms. Understanding why such a movement would be more efficient a certain way because the laws of physics are backing you up. Understanding the forces, the transfer of forces. Building up a strategy to win a fight. At a higher level, understanding human psychology, human physiology, human anatomy.

There is so much more to say about each of those categories that I’m better off writing other articles separately ! 

Ok, I get it! Martial arts is multifaceted!

Aside those wonderful qualities, and if you want to be more grounded in this approach. Martial arts are great for children ( and for adults too to be fair!) because they develop essential human skills : Fitness, coordination, memory, control, confidence, humility, balance, flexibility, functional strength.

Whether your child is hyper active, timid, a girl, a boy, tall, small or whichever qualificative that may suit their personality and physicality, a martial arts practice will always be beneficial.

So, for this back to school, choose martial arts!