My child is interested in the martial arts, but dont they promote violence?
Many people have the misconception that the martial arts promote violence, when in fact the opposite is true. Although we teach self-defense through blocking, kicking and punching, we use Kenpo as a vehicle for teaching life skills such as respect, discipline, self-confidence, focus, regular physical exercise, improved coordination, healthy athletic competition, academic success, avoiding peer pressure, leadership, and quieting the mind. Its true that all of this can come from learning to block, punch and kick. Some people worry that learning the martial arts will foster a sense of violence and give bullies the skills they need to continue harming others. Martial arts actually do the opposite. A common characteristic of bullies is that they lack impulse control and dont know how to manage their anger. Martial arts can help to solve these problems in that they help reduce stress, improve concentration and control, and teach respect of others. In this sense, martial arts also help childr
