Adults had been practicing karate and other martial arts in the United States since the 1950s, but when Karate Kid hit theaters in 1981, every mom in America wanted to find a Mr. Miyagi for her child. And, just like that, kids’ martial arts became popular activities for children.
But, as parents, we often forget there were two martial arts instructors in Karate Kid. One was Mr. Miyagi, and the other was John Kreese, the leader of the villainous Cobra Kai dojo. In the real world it can be hard to tell the difference. So, we’re providing Novi, Northville, and Plymouth parents a quick guide to finding a great teacher for their child.
Excellent Kids’ Martial Arts Teachers Are Trained Educators
It’s not enough for a kids’ taekwondo or karate teacher to know their art. They have to know kids. So you should ask a potential school how they train their teachers to work with kids. This is important for more than just how they work with your child, but also for how your child sees their teacher work with others.
Excellent Kids’ Martial Arts Teachers Are Positive Role-Models
Admittedly, it’s difficult to tell when a potential teacher is practicing what they preach – but it might be really obvious when they aren’t. Watch for signs that your kids’ karate teacher is living up to your expectations. Are they physically fit? Are they respectful on and off the mat?
How your kids’ martial arts teacher conducts themselves is important. Excellent instructors know that kids that actions speak louder than words, and they lead by example.
Excellent Kids’ Martial Arts Teachers Use Positive Reinforcement
A good martial arts classroom should be an encouraging, upbeat and fun place to be. To achieve this, the details matter. A good kids’ martial arts teacher will do subtle things like tell your child what to do, and not what not to do. They will catch your child doing things right and praise them, not just catch them doing things wrong.
A good children’s martial arts instructor doesn’t feel the need to yell at or embarrass kids. They inspire good behavior by using positivity and laying down clear expectations. This way, in the rare cases where a child does need to be corrected or given critical feedback, it’s so rare that a little goes a long way.
Find Out More About Our Teachers
If you’re thinking about signing your child up for martial arts lessons, let us help. You can check out our teachers, or reach out to us with any questions you have by giving us a call at 248-349-6900, or emailing info@northvillemartialarts.com. We’d love to help!