The word of the week is confidence. Easy word to say but have you thought what it means to you or your children?

Confidence is situational, many people don’t realise this. However, confidence breeds confidence. For example, are you confident in using a computer? Could you use a computer with ease and fix most problems that may occur? If not, then you lack confidence in using computers. Learning and gaining a set of skills will help deal with issues that may arise.

OK, so a more important situation. Are you confident you could keep yourself and your family safe in a conflict? Maybe with multiple aggressors or even a single aggressor? In many cases when someone gets into an altercation the person with the lowest confidence either freezes or submits. Obviously this is not a good thing if you are the one without the confidence. Often the aggressor has been in several conflicts before. You must have a set of skill that you are confident in to combat or negate their skill.

Martial arts can help with this hugely. Training not only to gain strength and correct technique in punching, kicking, and anything else you may use, but also discovering the huge power within yourself as your confidence grows in the knowledge that you can defend yourself or your friends and loved ones.

“With confidence, you have won before you started”

Training confidence in the martial arts isn’t just about the punching and kicking. For a child that is bullied or pressured by others, the confidence to say no is an enormous accomplishment.

Any and all goals in life are only ever reached if you have the confidence to reach them. The great thing is that the more goals you reach the faster your confidence grows.

Martial arts is the achievement of goal after goal, therefore martial arts is a constant improvement on confidence. Not so many activities can do this.

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent”

                                                                                                                                         -Eleanor Roosevelt

This quote is great for those that have ever felt bullied. A very damaging parts of being bullied is feeling helpless and isolation. The thought that it will never get better, this is far from true. With confidence the future gets brighter and brighter and this is especially true for children.

Time and time again I have seen children and adults come into the academy worried to even walk through the front door. It’s great feeling seeing those same individuals overcome their fears and doubts. Gaining knowledge that life has improved.

Here is a video of our student creed. Some of these children had little confidence in themselves. And now? Well the evidence speaks for itself.