The are many benefits to learning martial arts at a young age. Photo courtesy of Evolve MMA.
Every first Friday of October, Singapore celebrates Children’s Day and all the qualities the young ones represent. While there is no formal way to commemorate the occasion, a study break is always welcome. And with their high energy and desire to try new things, it can also be a good idea to introduce your children to a new activity. If so, consider this an opportunity to start them on martial arts.
WHY LEARN AT A YOUNG AGE?
The idea of practising martial arts may come across as brutish to some parents, but rest assured it is less about physical combat than it is about body-conditioning. Martial arts are often practiced as a way for to stay active and to keep fit. They are also good for developing motor skills, flexibility and reflexes.
And it is not just about physicality — martial arts nurture positive inner qualities. Through the ethos of martial arts, children gain values of honour, hard work and respect. Martial arts can also be an excellent way to expose children to different cultures.
“The learning of martial arts not only helps to instil confidence in your child from an early age but also builds strong foundations for them to become more well-rounded individuals,” says Evolve MMA’s Vice President (VP), Wesley De Souza. Evolve MMA is a mixed martial arts academy with five branches in Singapore. It is also Asia’s top martial arts academy to house the most number of world champions in all major martial arts disciplines.
WHERE CAN ONE START?
With the array of martial arts out there, how can parents decide what’s best for their children? Experimentation is often the best way to begin their learning journey.
The People’s Association is a good start point. It offers a variety of popular martial art forms at various levels — with classes held at different locations. They include Judo, Silat, Taijiquan, Wushu and Aikido. If you prefer more specialised guidance for your children, there are private classes at schools such as Han Taekwondo, where martial arts are taught in more intimate group settings.
You can also let your children try martials arts that were once considered niche but have now gained a strong following.
Photo courtesy of Evolve MMA.
BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU AND MUAY THAI, FROM EVOLVE MMA
With its Little Samurai Children’s Program, Evolve MMA aims to offer a “360-degree approach to a child’s overall wellness and impart life skills through the power of martial arts”. Wesley adds that by learning authentic martial arts from world champions — which many of Evolve MMA’s trainers are — “young practitioners will inherit confidence, mental strength, discipline, focus and the right self-defence techniques”.
In particular, the academy’s VP likens one of its offerings to an unlikely activity: “Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a highly technical martial art that is often referred to as the gentle art, or in some cases, human chess. Evolve MMA’s Children’s Program focuses on teaching your child the art of leverage, mastering and executing techniques that will help to de-escalate any potential conflict.”
Children as young as four years old can join in Evolve MMA’s curricula that are tailored to segmented groups by ages. “The techniques are taught in a progressive manner for each child,” Wesley explains.
Photo courtesy of Meerkats Wrestling Club.
WRESTLING, FROM MEERKATS WRESTLING CLUB
Far from the drama of the sport presented by World Wrestling Federation (WWE), wrestling at its core is a complex understanding of the human anatomy, and how to execute safe throwdowns or secure an opponent in locks and holds. You can find a wrestling school in Singapore on the official Wrestling Federation of Singapore website. A good place to start is with Meerkats Wrestling Club, where 2019 SEA Games Women’s Wrestling (55 kg) bronze medal winner Yap Su Jun had trained.
Photo courtesy of Capoeira Kids Singapore.
CAPOEIRA, FROM CAPOEIRA KIDS SINGAPORE
The heritage of this Brazilian martial art is immediately felt when a piece of music plays, and practitioners start to express themselves in moves that incorporate dance, acrobatics and martial arts. One might feel that only agile people are capable of this discipline. But the folks at Capoeira Kids Singapore have worked with different children, including those with disabilities. With its infectious soundtrack and free-form expression, you can say this one is truly crafted for the kids.
Photo courtesy of Kali Majapahit.
KALI MAJAPAHIT FROM KALI MAJAPAHIT
Developed by lifelong martial arts practitioner Fred Evrard, the discipline was founded in 1998. At the core of this Southeast Asian martial arts system is Filipino martial art Kali, but it also incorporates Indonesian Silat, Muay Thai and Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do into the mix. The school’s website states that kids as young as three years old can join, and older children have a chance to work with sticks and staves as they progress further in their training.
Photo courtesy of International Krav Maga Federation.
KRAV MAGA, FROM INTERNATIONAL KRAV MAGA FEDERATION
Well-known for originating as a military self-defence form, Krav Maga hails from Israel and features an open style of combat. While it may come across as a deadly martial art form, Krav Maga can be practiced by children, training them to be responsive to unwanted encounters. The International Krav Maga Federation offers trials for children, so that they can experience the sport first-hand before committing to training long-term.
