Many people have the misconception that karate is all about punches and kicks, but did you know that there is a philosophy behind this martial arts form? While the physical aspect of karate can increase your child’s concentration and self-control, the school of thought behind karate can provide a positive guide to life for your child. Here are 5 karate quotes that will have a positive influence on your child!
1) “Karate is a lifetime study” -Kenwa Mabuni
Following the wise words of Sensei Mabuni, karate consists of a ranking system that provides a series of challenges for your child. Perseverance is key to success – when your child feels a sense of excitement for passing a belt test, this will give him more motivation to continue and remind him that hard work pays off in the end.
2) “Karate begins and ends with courtesy” -Gichin Funakoshi
Although karate involves punches and kicks, your child should remember that manners are inherently tied to karate. Before a match and after a match, you should always bow as a form of respect toward your opponent. In a karate match, there are no bad winners or sore losers. Once your child learns to respect his opponent, he will also learn to respect all sorts of people he encounters in life.
3) “The best fighter is never angry” -Lao Tsu
Other than learning body control through punches and kicks, your child also learns how to control his emotions in karate. Karate involves a high level of concentration and self-control – if your child’s emotions are out of control, this will affect the quality and strategy of his self-defense.
4) “The ultimate fighter does not rely on his hands or feet to defeat his opponent, but rather his mind” -J. Stoddard
Similar to Lao Tsu’s quote, M.J. Stoddard reinforces the importance of using the brain in karate. Rather than punching and kicking the opponent incessantly, your child should think of ways to defend himself and strike the opponent in a way that would guarantee potential success during a match.
5) “You have the power to fulfill your dreams!” -Tae Yun Kim
Life is not always a smooth journey – it’ll involve rocky roads and challenges that may alter your child’s motivation and mindset. However, karate will help cultivate his inner power and strength, so that when he encounters challenges in the future, it’ll remind him to maintain a positive mindset and persevere in hard times.
