Tae Kwon-Do is not just for kids.
In fact, when Tae Kwon-Do first began being taught in the US, it was intended primarily for military members; folks 18 years and older. Over time, though, the non-physical benefits of Tae Kwon-Do started to become more apparent, and instructors began using it as a tool to educate and train children as well.
I don’t consider Tae Kwon-Do to be a sport. In my opinion, sports are athletic competitions.
Tae Kwon-Do obviously includes athletic development and improving physical strength. But, it also teaches competition, character-building, self-defense, respect, and self-confidence.
So, because Tae Kwon-Do is a more holistic program than traditional sports, and it benefits adults and children alike, it’s a perfect family activity for parents and their children to share.
A lot of times, after a few months of sitting in our lobby or viewing area and watching their children in class, parents start to get the itch to start doing it themselves.
Some parents don’t start because their children have typically already moved up to a higher level by the time they get the itch. They worry about being in different classes which would be the case. But, we can certainly accommodate that at our school.
The best bet, though, is to have parents and children start their trial programs together, which is what we have been encouraging.
Once families begin training together, a number of wonderful things start to happen.
Families that train together tend to have a much stronger and more unique bond than most parents have with their kids. The kids at our school are taught respect and always say “yes sir” and “yes ma’am.” Also, children get the chance to watch their parents do some really cool things, and the parents receive praise from them. It’s a very symbiotic relationship that has a snowball effect on the growth of them as both as individuals and as a family.
The respect component also has a way of bringing together families who may be having trouble getting along. The sense of respect that we develop is a mutual respect. So, it’s not just the parents demanding respect from their children, it’s children getting respect from their parents as well. It’s a two-way street.
So, how does it work?
In our family classes, we start with strengthening and stretching together, and maybe doing some punch and kick warm-ups. But then, parents and children are separated. The kids are learning things they need to learn as a child, and the adults are learning things they need to learn as adults (and maybe things I don’t want the kids to see or practice just yet.)
Families don’t necessarily have to take the family classes, though. They are certainly welcome to take separate classes if they choose.
Either way, encouraging families to train together has been really cool, and it has worked out really well for us.
It’s probably one of the better moves we’ve ever made.
Pun intended.
Master Gorino’s Tae Kwon-Do offers a trial program for individuals and families in Buffalo, NY and the surrounding areas that allows you to get a feel for the different classes, meet our instructors, and experience our dojang. It’s a great way to see if Tae Kwon-Do is right for you. To learn more or to sign up, register online or call (716) 836-KICK (5425) and a member of our team will follow up with you on next steps. We look forward to helping you achieve your goals. Pil-Sung!
