The parent of martial arts: how to support your child’s journey

So, does your child want to learn to launch flying rotating kicks like one of the superheroes they see on TV? Welcome to the world of being a parent of martial arts: a place where excitement is encouraged, but remaining in control is equally important.

Support your son in martial arts, whether it is Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or both-is everything to find the right balance. Encourage them, but avoid overcoming the boundaries. Think about yourself as their trusted companion, not the main character! Today we explore some ways to be the best support system for your child on their martial arts trip.

1) Guide, do not train (seriously, let the coaches and black belts manage it)

You are not paying for the martial arts lessons of your child only in the moonlight as Sensei Mom or Professor Dad. The martial arts instructors spend years to refine their job and it is their task to train your child during training sessions and competitions. Screaming instructions to your child from the sidelines in general does more damage than well.

Your work as a parent is to cheer up and applaud as strong as possible. Listening to your voice will help your child push all the adversities they meet on the carpet. Leave the technical advice to professionals!

Avoid the impulse to give advice to children even during post-class races. These are not the moments for unsolicited feedback. Instead, ask questions like “What was the funniest technique you learned today?”.

2) celebrates the effort on the results (because it concerns the journey, not just the medal)

Celebrate the growth of your child in martial arts, not only their victories, but their resilience, discipline and every milestone earned hard.

Your child does not need to become the world champion Muay Thai or the Ibjjf world champion to make you proud. The learning of martial arts is not just being a good competitor; It is also of building attributes such as resilience, discipline and trust.

Praise your child’s progress as a martial artist. Have they finally master the L-Sweep after fighting it for weeks? This is a victory that is worth celebrating!

3) Foster Independence (no, you can’t do their flexions for them)

Let your child take care of their martial arts journey and progress including-so that they can learn the responsibility and resolution of problems.

The formation of martial arts teaches self -sufficiency but in the balance on your child as a helicopter parent teaches the opposite. Take a step back and let your child own their martial arts journey.

Put your child’s training tools together and deliver the reins. Children forget things and okay. Let them learn in the hardest way that leaving their gi home means that they will be the only ones who wear gym shorts in practice.

He resists the impulse of “repairing” everything and let him first solve the problems. Do you see your child struggling with a technique? Encourage them to ask questions to their instructors instead of talking to the coach on their behalf.

4) communicate openly (but not too openly)

Remain curious but not intrusive: also “how was the class?” And let your child lead the conversation.

Yes, it is important to remain informed about what is happening in the Dojo. If your child does not like their instructor, this is one thing, but shouting constantly every day is excessive.

Instead, do you ask specific questions like “How was the class?” And let your son take over from there. Listen more and less lessons. Respect your child’s privacy if they don’t want to talk about their session. They may not have obtained a technique or could be tired after a long day.

5) Balance training with recovery (because even small humans need to sleep)

The workout of your child’s martial arts with rest, correct nutrition and fun to keep them and prevent burnout is balanced.

Martial arts parents often fall into one of the two traps: to trigger or submit to the prescription of the formation of their child. Some things you can do to balance your child’s training include:

• Plan days of rest: Even professional fighters do not train 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Make sure your child has quite days out for other activities as walks in the family, playing with friends or other sports.
• Watch the Burnout: Ask questions to understand what is going on if your child suddenly hates training in martial arts. They could only need a break after a school full of school, CCA and other commitments.
• Feed their car: The meals rich in nutrients and hydration count even more when the child begins to train in martial arts. This means that their diet should be rich in protein for their growing bodies, carbohydrates to feed their training sessions and many fruit and vegetables to provide essential micronutrients. This does not mean that they should not obtain occasional delicacies such as ice cream after milestones such as the passage of belt tests.

6) Knowing when to take a step back (yes, even if you are a black belt in micromanaging)

Support your child’s martial arts journey by giving them space, respecting their choices and letting them explore what best suits them.

Learn to let go of the last parents that martial arts parents face. Learn to skip the occasional class. Your presence is not required during each training session. Allow your child to interact with their peers without the watchful gaze.

Martial arts parents should support the choices of their children, even if they want to stop. Instead of telling them “no”, ask why they feel like that. Perhaps martial arts do not do for them, or maybe they just need to try a different style. Martial arts gyms how evolve MMA offer trial lessons for the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and Muay Thai for a reason, giving you more options to explore the right solution for your child.

Remember that it is your child’s martial arts journey, not yours. Your role is to drive, not control!

7) Be the Obi-Wan for their Luca (Wisdom> Control)

Be a mentor, not a micromanager, for example, encourages growth and inspires through stories, not lessons.

Like Obi-Wan, your job is not to help your child exercise a laser sword; It is to share Jedi level wisdom. Martial arts parents should guide their children, not for micromanage.

• Resilience of the model: Have you done to burn dinner? Tell your back plans to your child with something like: “Well, this has not gone as expected, but we can try again tomorrow”. Children imitate what they see.
• Embraces the mentality “again”: Always add “still” to your child’s phrases when they say things like “I can’t perform in the roundhouse”.
• Share stories, not lessons: Instead of boring your son with one of those stories “when I was your age …”, inspire them on how their favorite martial artist or star star failed many times before reaching their goals.

Withdraw your inner sense: their journey, your support

Support your child’s martial arts journey does not concern the collection of a world champion; It is a question of helping them become resilient and safe people who can manage any life made their way, from the school presentations to the escape of suffocators of subtle triangles.

Stay optimistic on the sidelines, do not put pressure on the child and be generous with post-class snacks.

The lessons that your child learn on the mat will help them in all aspects of their life. They will have a productive way to burn all that excess energy that children seem apparently while learning precious skills and life lessons.

Take a look at the programs for children of Evolve Mma if your son is interested in martial arts. We offer free lessons in styles such as Muay Thai and Bjj. You may also be sneaked into a sparring session for friendly parent-child if you promise not to cry when your child uses you!

Book your free trial lesson with our world champions below!

If you have other questions about MMA Evolve and the programs we offer, you can get in touch with our subscription managers in the following locations:

Evolve Mma (Far East Square)
26 China Street
Far East Square #01-01
Singapore 049568
Telephone: (65) 6536 4525

Evolve MMA (Orchard Central)
181 Orchard Road
#06-01 Orchard Central
Singapore 238896
Telephone: (65) 6536 4556

Evolve Mma (Kinex)
11
#02-52 Kinex
Singapore 437157
Telephone: (65) 6288 2293

Evolve Mma (Star Vista)
1 View Exchange Green
#02-26a The Star Vista
Singapore 138617
Telephone: (65) 6539 9590