| Childhood obesity is a worrying trend that needs to | | | | powerful tool in gaining self assurance. Moreover, the |
| be addressed as urgently as possible. Overweight | | | | traditional forms of Oriental self-defense or combat |
| children not only suffer from all kinds of health | | | | (aikido, judo, jujitsu, karate kendo kick boxing kung |
| problems, they are invariably the targets of bullying in | | | | fu sumo wrestling, tae kwon do) utilize physical skill |
| school and generally occupy the lowest rung of the | | | | and coordination and concentration without the use |
| social ladder among their peers. Telling an obese child | | | | of weapons, so there is little chance of inflicting |
| to control his/her food intake or to substitute high | | | | lasting damage. |
| calorie snacks with healthier ones is a pointless task - | | | | Self discipline is pivotal for those who would like to |
| all it does is hammer home the point to the child that | | | | master the skills needed to become a good |
| you think he/she is lacks self control. | | | | exponent of the martial arts. This means that the |
| Exercise is a great way to lose weight, but it does | | | | child, once considered too weak willed to control his |
| tends to get boring. However, there is a way to get | | | | her appetite, is taught by a master to curb his |
| overweight kids to exercise while empowering them | | | | desires, learn restraint and conduct his/her life with |
| with self confidence and a definite sense of | | | | perfect self control. |
| achievement - through training in the Martial Arts. | | | | Building stamina, learning the correct method of |
| Learning martial arts is an excellent way to lose | | | | breathing, flexibility of the body and strengthening of |
| weight, build stamina, learn self discipline and develop | | | | muscles through repetitive exercises are the |
| a positive sense of self and the advantages of this | | | | inevitable results of learning any of the different self |
| type of training cannot be overstated. | | | | defence techniques. The student can sense the |
| The child is taught by a trained expert. There are | | | | changes in his/her body within a month or two and |
| many forms of martial arts and each one of them | | | | the effect only increases as the higher levels of |
| has a different approach and philosophy. The | | | | technical difficulty are scaled. |
| cornerstone of any form of martial arts training is the | | | | With little or no external pressure to be the best |
| relationship between the master and student. Strict | | | | other than that which the students place on |
| adherence to the rules of the training school and | | | | themselves, the out of shape child can take as long |
| obedience to the master are vital aspects of the | | | | as he/she wants to master each level of skill before |
| training process. In return, the child as a student of | | | | going on to the next. Since older and more |
| the martial arts school gets the teacher's guidance in | | | | experienced students are encouraged to lend a hand |
| all matters relating to the particular form of combat | | | | in coaching the newer ones, a feeling of belonging |
| he/she has decided to master. Since the sanctity of | | | | and camaraderie is fostered. This in turn gives the |
| the teacher- student relationship is paramount to the | | | | obese child the safe environment he needs to |
| the philosophy of martial arts, the overweight child | | | | master his chosen discipline knowing that he /she will |
| finds in his trainer a mentor that he can respect and | | | | never be mocked or made to feel worthless. |
| whose advice he is willing to follow. | | | | Although learning and mastering any of the various |
| Self defence is the most important aspect of martial | | | | forms of self defence requires a long term |
| arts. This means that the student is taught to | | | | commitment; the positive results that manifest |
| protect himself from any form of physical assault. | | | | themselves within a short period of time indicate that |
| Since overweight children are often regularly bullied in | | | | perhaps this is an avenue worth exploring, along with |
| and out of school, the ability to confront their | | | | diet restrictions and regular exercise, as a means of |
| tormentors with the knowledge that at last they do | | | | reducing the number of overweight children in our |
| not have to be at the receiving end, can be a | | | | society. |