Tag Archives: child self defense

Child Safety, Martial Arts, SYN Digital Enrollment Director

The Basics of Self Defense

So, you’ve decided that your child is ready to learn something about self defense. Where should you start? What kind of skills and behaviors does your child need to know for adequate self defense and safety and where can they get them?
As a parent you may already be personally skilled in the art of self defense and understand the principles of personal safety. If this is true for you then you have probably already shared your knowledge and skills with your child and may be participating in a formal martial arts or self defense program yourself.
If not, here are a few tips for helping your child to learn and develop these skills for themselves:
  • Develop a plan with your child. Rehearse commonly unsafe conditions with them and help them to learn how to use appropriate responses like running away and telling a trusted adult, yelling loudly or fighting back.
  • Ensure that your child has several trusted contacts and safe places to call or run to in the event of an emergency situation or unsafe condition. Help them to memorize phone numbers and addresses.
  • Identify and teach your child several basic physical self defense moves to use if they are being attacked like kicking or punching.
  • Sign them up for a martial arts training program in your area. Most martial arts schools incorporate safety awareness, stranger awareness and simple physical tactics for dealing with an attack as a part of their program.
The basics of self defense and personal safety really begin at home so, as a parent, you are your child’s first, best teacher and role model. You might consider enrolling your entire family in a good martial arts program to ensure a consistent and supportive environment in which you can all learn to practice good habits for safety and self defense.
Child Safety, Family Safety, SYN Digital Enrollment Director

What Your Child Should Know About Safety

We all worry about the safety of our children in an uncertain world where danger lurks around every corner and we may feel inadequate to provide them with the necessary training for self defense. The question is how can I help my child to develop the skills and the judgment they need for adequate self defense and safety?
The first challenge is to help your child learn to distinguish the difference between situations that require simple safety measures and those requiring skills in self defense. The following are a few tips for helping them to know the difference:
  • Teach your child to believe in their own instincts, or “knowing” about any situation. If something doesn’t feel safe then assume that it isn’t and act accordingly.
  • Help them to learn to be aware of their surroundings and the people around them at all times. If you don’t know what’s going on around you it’s not possible to make clear decisions about how to stay safe or to defend yourself when necessary.
  • Provide them with the opportunity to develop the skills and the physical strength they need to feel, act and be confident in their ability to physically defend themselves if necessary.
Martial arts training is a good way to help your child to develop all of these skills and attitudes about personal safety and self defense.
The classes and progressive training are all designed to teach them to memorize behaviors and information they need to promote safety. To be alert, to be confident, and to properly use the self defense techniques they might need to fight back to protect themselves when necessary.