Eastern Martial Arts Center
Below is an article written by Laura Saunders who is a successful freelance writer, mother of two and a martial arts practitioner, she has written articles for http://www.best-karate-equipment.com, your online guide to karate uniforms, martial arts sparring equipment, and karate training equipment.

“Admit it. When the going gets tough at home, we’ve all plopped the kids in front of the television and breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, we can get started on dinner, maybe check email or sort that massive pile of laundry.

But when your five-year old yells at you “Mom, Kids Rule!” or your ten-year old horrifies you with language that would make a sailor blush, you realize there must be something amiss with what these “family programs” really teach our kids. And sadly, its happening all over the media today, from sports to cartoons, and our children are learning things that we, as parents, vowed we would never teach them. Old fashioned values like respect and self-discipline, seems to have been forgotten, replaced by the dreaded “bling bling” pop culture of today.

Just the thought of your angelic three-year old morphing into a designer-clad, smart-mouthed, money-worshipping, me-obsessed, lay-about is enough to make any parent consider that threatening military school brochure, but there is a solution out there to consider.

Martial Arts training.

You and your kids have all seen the flying kicks, battle cries and mighty chops of their favorite TV characters, as they beat the bad guys to submission – but, you may ask, how on earth can these acts of violence teach my child anything worthwhile?

First, know that what you see on television (save perhaps the Karate Kid) is a far cry from what real martial arts are all about. The fact is, martial arts training is based on non-violence.

Originating in Asia (mainly Japan, China and Korea, although Thailand and Vietnam have their own practices as well), martial arts range from a variety of types and styles, all of which are based on well-rounded, moral teachings. The beauty of learning martial arts is that it encompasses not just the physical aspect of the “sport”, but mental and emotional lessons as well.

Comparing that to other kid’s activities and sports, where fierce competitiveness and “winning at all costs” seems to be the order of the day, it’s not surprising that many children grapple with issues of self-esteem and misplaced aggression. “

The following are benefits that many Students can expect to receive.

Improved ability to focus and concentrate
Better grades in school
More self confidence
Higher self esteem
Improved physical fitness
Greater body awareness and control
More respect for self and others
More self-discipline
Become more responsible
Able to physically defend themselves as a last resort
Develop the habit of goal setting
Positive outlet for energy
Excellent character development program
Make new friends in a positive environment
Greater self-control
More able to handle pressure in everyday life
Able to be calmer in the face of conflict
Less likely to fight in school
Learn leadership skills