| "Martial Arts or Karate may not be a good fit for my | | | | learn life skills, self defense, and play with good kids |
| daughter." | | | | in a safe environment. Martial arts, for children, are a |
| We are living in the 21st century, and I still hear this | | | | formula for success, and the cost is really, "peanuts." |
| one. This kind of thinking is what has been holding | | | | Most well behaved children are allowed to take more |
| women back for centuries. This statement is not only | | | | Karate classes. The children who "run the staff |
| made by fathers, but by mothers, too. If your | | | | ragged" will be reminded of the weekly limit. So, the |
| daughter wants to try martial arts, let her have a | | | | truth is the real cost may be less than peanuts, since |
| chance. Martial arts classes for girls, or women, are | | | | there are plenty of martial arts schools, including our |
| very rewarding. | | | | center in North Providence, Rhode Island, that charge |
| Over the years, I have coached successful female | | | | far less than $100 per month. |
| martial arts competitors who were every bit as good | | | | Using the formula mentioned above, the cost of |
| as their male counterparts. In the past, our kids' | | | | Karate per class for a martial arts school, charging |
| karate demonstration team had female captains. At | | | | the national average of $70 per month, comes to |
| one point, we had more girls on the demonstration | | | | $5.83 per session. Did I say martial arts training is a |
| team than boys. | | | | bargain? Maybe I should have said martial arts training |
| Lately, we have hit the opposite cycle, with more | | | | is a steal. |
| boys than girls, as the kids from our kids' Karate | | | | The alternative to plug kids into the television, and |
| demonstration team perform around the Providence, | | | | put a joystick in their hands, is a big mistake. It's not |
| Rhode Island area. However, girls learn faster, | | | | any cheaper, when you consider the cost of games |
| understand precision, can easily grasp complicated | | | | and the ever changing video game formats. |
| techniques, and are usually better kickers. | | | | On top of that, here's what video games do for kids: |
| Some grappling arts, such as Jujitsu, are not as | | | | Create anxiety, destroy social skills, teach them a lot |
| popular with girls, but I have coached good female | | | | about violence, and waste most of their time. All you |
| grapplers, as well. There is no reason to stop your | | | | need to do is throw a Big Mac in their lap every |
| daughter from learning martial arts, if she shows an | | | | night, and within a year, you should have a child who |
| interest. All of the life skill benefits such as, goal | | | | is a nervous wreck, with poor communication skills, |
| setting, self esteem, self discipline, success, and self | | | | and an obesity problem. |
| defense, make martial arts training as important for | | | | Over the long-term, the wrong after school activities |
| girls as it is for boys. | | | | result in very expensive health and psychological care. |
| "How can I justify the cost of Karate?" | | | | Therefore, look at martial arts as preventative |
| When you consider that many Karate schools charge | | | | medicine, and as a bonus, your child is staying out of |
| less than a babysitter, martial arts training for children | | | | trouble. |
| is a "bargain." Consider this formula based upon a | | | | Lastly, if cost is really an issue and you still can't |
| fairly high priced Karate studio. Most martial arts | | | | justify paying less than you would pay for a |
| studios, in the United States, average around $70 per | | | | babysitter at $5.83 per session, you can still shop |
| month to train a child. Granted, some are more and | | | | around and talk until you find the right karate studio. |
| mome are less, but let's look at your price per hour, | | | | A martial arts studio, that is "packed to the rafters" |
| if you paid $100 per month. | | | | with kids, may not be as negotiable as a Karate |
| That comes to just $25 per week, and many Karate | | | | studio that is an upstart, or a martial arts center that |
| studios have a three class limit per week for children. | | | | has plenty of room in their kids Karate classes. |
| That comes to $8.33 per session for your child to | | | | |