20 Ways Martial Arts Schools Build Children’s Confidence

A good sensei can help build a child's self confidence in a safe and friendly environment.

Martial arts schools can be great places to build self confidence in children. Self confidence plays a very important role in our happiness and success in life. It is crucial that children are given the opportunity to develop it at a young age. Here are 20 ways in which a good martial arts school can improve a child’s confidence. If you can think of any more, please feel free to add your comments below.

1. Children will imitate their parents or other role models. A good sensei will provide an excellent role model for the children to imitate. The sensei will have the body posture and movement typical of a confident, successful person.

2. When a sensei truly enjoys being with the children in the class and is obviously having fun, the kids will come away thinking that they are fun to be with.

3. By getting down and playing with the children, the sensei makes the children feel valuable, especially if she focuses her attention on them.

4. By knowing their names and repeating them, the sensei reinforces the child’s sense of self-esteem in their minds.

5. The carry-over principle—success in martial arts will carry over into other areas of the child’s life.

6. By discovering what the child is good at and praising her for it, the sensei will build her self confidence.

7. A good sensei will help a child lose his “labels”. There are no “fat kids” or “asthmatic kids” in martial arts schools. There are only karate kids, or whatever art is being taught.

8. By teaching good values, the sensei is able to help the child decide for himself what is right in the face of peer pressure.

9. By giving children responsibilities, they become more confident. Once the student reaches a high rank they are expected to help out the younger, less experienced students. This greatly increases their sense of responsibility.

10. A good sensei will encourage students to ask for help if they need it. This builds assertiveness, a key ingredient in self confidence.

11. The sensei will help a child overcome any negative self-talk that might be holding him back. “You can do it” is one of the sensei’s favourite phrases.

12. Students will learn to accept mistakes as part of learning. They will make plenty, but each day they will get better and will learn that mistakes are no big deal—even the sensei makes them!

13. Good martial arts schools will break the belts down into bite-sized chunks so the children are able to achieve success. Each step towards the goal will build a layer of self confidence. The child will learn that with a bit of work and determination, success can be obtained.

14. Children need limits to feel secure. The sensei will have rules that must be followed in the dojo, giving all students proper guidance.

15. Taking healthy risks builds a child’s confidence. In martial arts there will be some risks, particularly in the higher ranks, but there is no success without the chance of failure. There will be failures along the way, but they will be overcome, with determination and persistence. This process builds confidence.

16. The sensei will show your child how to make proper eye contact in order to project confidence.

17. A good sensei will encourage your child to put his hand up and answer questions, which will make him much more confident.

18. The student will have a chance to observe how people are motivated and inspired—from watching the sensei.

19. The martial arts training itself will build strength, skill, and confidence, which will also repel bullies.

20. The sensei will recognise improvements and effort as part of the process of learning, rather than just the end result.

Great martial arts schools are in every city. Give your children the gift of confidence and find one nearby.

Sensei Matt Klein

Find out more about our Sydney kids karate classes