Table of content
1. Overview
BJJ is a demanding and challenging martial art. Kids need to focus on every detail to learn new ground fighting techniques and self-defense. In BJJ training, focus and self-discipline act like muscles that need to be strengthened with constant training.
A kid’s ability to focus and maintain self-discipline with BJJ training enhances their performance, personal growth, relations, and quality of life. Even naughty and mischievous kids at home tend to learn self-control, discipline, and follow the rules after their BJJ training.
Training in BJJ with an effective BJJ instructor engages kids by improving their skills, instills a sense of accomplishment, and encourage positive behavior. This article will shed details on the importance of BJJ training in promoting self-discipline in kids.
2. Meaning of Self-Discipline
Self-discipline is one's ability to govern the body, resist impulses, and maintain focus. It can also control verbal and physical actions that are not always aware of.
In other words, self-discipline is controlling undesirable actions and habits in favor of self-improvement, management, and growth.
2.1. Discipline Vs. Punishment
Discipline means training someone to behave appropriately in a specific situation, whereas punishment means inflicting physical or emotional harm based on past inappropriate behavior. When a parent or teacher talks about the child's discipline, they will explain the cause and effect of actions without giving any punishment.
Punishment is not an encouraging way to discipline kids because it develops a fear in them and can harm their physical, emotional, and mental health. Other harms of physical punishment among kids are associated with aggression, anger, antisocial behavior, poor academic performance, and the unpleasant relationship between parent and child.
Although it is parents' frustrating and exhausting duty to make their kids disciplined and controlled, parents need to understand appropriate ways to improve children's behavior. Parents need to check on their kids mental and emotional health by developing a sympathetic relationship with them.
2.2. Why Do Kids Need Self-Discipline?
The word discipline is a Latin word that means to teach. Self-discipline means teaching kids control and to behave responsibly. With consistent teaching about discipline and self-control, kids start to recognize the consequences of their actions. They begin taking charge of their own decisions and actions.
The main motivation behind self-discipline is to teach kids about self-management and self-evaluation of their life goals.
Teachers and parents must reward kids for acceptable behavior and discourage inappropriate behaviour in positive ways.
Self-discipline helps children to face life's challenges with courage and resilience. Kids can also manage their stress levels and better control their emotions. They are also able to make better decisions without adults. Moreover, kids are also more open to constructive criticism by adults.
3. Self-Discipline of Kids on BJJ Training Mats
BJJ training teaches many valuable skills to kids like self-discipline, confidence, self-defense, respect, body awareness, and flexibility. Kids training on BJJ mats two or three times a week come to know the worth of self-discipline. They follow proper guidelines for a healthy diet, training, regular exercise, and evaluating themselves.
As kids improve their skills, their need for BJJ training also increases. Thus, they need constant motivation and confidence to perform well on BJJ mats.
BJJ instructors try to provide a positive environment for kids to learn the importance of goal setting, respect, hard work, consistency, discipline, and control to learn BJJ more effectively.
During BJJ training, kids learn many life lessons that are important for self-growth and improvement. Self-discipline and self-control are not taught in school as valuable lessons. Kids can only learn self-discipline and self-control when they assess their physical and mental abilities by their own volition.
Hence, BJJ training proves to be an excellent way for kids to believe in themselves and try to do great things.
3.1. Self-Discipline in School
Kids who learn self-discipline tend to get better academic scores and perform excellently in both curricular and extracurricular activities. They are also good at self and time management, which is very important in academics. They follow a specific study routine and show punctuality at school.
School education is ineffective if kids don't learn self-discipline. Self-discipline helps kids set their goals and strive hard to achieve them.
3.2. Self-Discipline in Personal Life/Relations
A kid does not develop self-discipline as an innate skill, but he learns it from observing adults, teachers, parents, and society. It is an important skill needed to progress in life.
Once a child knows his inner capabilities, it affects his goals and actions throughout his life. Later in life, self-discipline helps children achieve their goals, decreases anxiety, enhances physical health, positively impacts relations, and helps them feel more satisfied.
4. BJJ Teaches Kids Self-Discipline
4.1. Focus
Kids learn self-discipline during BJJ training by focusing, concentrating, and even repeating BJJ fighting techniques. Kids need to understand and develop their expertise in BJJ fighting techniques by listening, paying attention, and avoiding distractions.
4.2. Set Goals
BJJ training is also helpful for kids set their goals and make systematic efforts to achieve them. Plans do not just succeed in one or two days; sometimes kids need to struggle.
The discipline of BJJ consists of guiding principles and philosophies. It is impossible to become a skilled BJJ athlete in just a few days. Kids should set attainable and smart goals by selecting a specific routine to follow.
4.3. Following Routines
A kid's success on a BJJ mat is solely dependent on following a balanced routine for school, BJJ training, and leisure time. Parents, teachers, and BJJ instructors play an essential part in a kid's disciplined lifestyle.
According to a kid's age and fitness level, a weekly timetable must be set to adjust the timings of school, homework, BJJ training, healthy food, online games, and family time.
4.4. Self-Evaluation
After following a weekly timetable, kids need to do a self-evaluation. They can note their strengths and weaknesses in following the daily goals to encourage self-improvement.
They must evaluate whether their goals are realistic and how often they get distracted in a particular week. They must also note the training hours they spend on BJJ mats. With self-evaluation, they can become aware of their progress in BJJ training.
Jiu-Jitsu | Discipline, and Confidence in Kids
5. Benefits of the Self-Discipline with BJJ Training
Although BJJ gyms are pretty challenging, they still enable kids to become real-life champions and the lessons they learn from BJJ training are applicable in other aspects of life, too.
Self-discipline and control are helpful in a school environment, household duties, and obeying elders. Along with self-discipline, confidence, and respect, BJJ training teaches kids the values of heroism, resilience, consistency, and perseverance to achieve bigger aims in life.
For kids to learn, understand, and adjust their behavior, they must be given the necessary structure and help. Setting clear guidelines for expected behavior, explanations for why, and explaining the real-life consequences help kids learn boundaries, helping them grow into responsible adults.
5.1. Cause and Effect
All the actions taken by kids have a cause and an effect. Kids must understand the consequences of actions and how it impacts others.
During BJJ training, kids learn to shape their behaviors and actions according to BJJ principles. The significance of cause and effect cannot be understated. By knowing the cause and effect of every action, kids can control their emotions and act more wisely.
5.2. Problem-Solving
Problem-solving is a fundamental skill in BJJ training. Knowing the cause and effect of every action, kids can interpret what will happen next. Self-control cannot be practice without knowing problem-solving skills. Kids must understand what will be the possible impact of each action. Once they know this, they can start finding better options and better solutions to problems without hurrying.
In a real fight, when a kid encounters a conflict, he/she must evaluate the best outcome to resolve the conflict. Knowing the consequences will allow him/her to solve a problem more efficiently.
5.3. Decision-Making
Decision-making skills are an integral part of personal growth. All decisions are made based on cause and effect. BJJ training helps kids to learn the basics of decision-making. Kids think, evaluate the alternatives, and then choose the best option. If kids can become influential decision-makers at an early age, it helps them throughout their lives to make critical decisions.
BJJ training also enables kids to control their actions when needed because sometimes, remaining passive is the best strategy to avoid dire consequences. As kids are more aggressive and emotional, they need to learn self-control and show patience during stressful situations.
5.4. Develop Critical Thinking Skills
Critical thinking skills are essential for kids to learn self-discipline. BJJ training helps kids polish their necessary thinking skills to evaluate different situations. Kids also start applying principles of BJJ training in their practical lives. Therefore, BJJ helps kids exercise self-discipline on and off the BJJ mats.
5.5. Self-Confidence
Kids may face many difficulties during BJJ training. With some self-confidence, they can tackle difficult situations by showing patience, consistency, and dedication. Learning to tackle difficulties on BJJ mats also helps kids overcome and solve various problems. The ability to solve problems enables kids to gain even more self-confidence. Thus, kids can aim for higher goals later on in life.
5.6. Patience
One of the most important lessons learned by kids during BJJ training is to know the worth of patience and self-improvement. As there is no shortcut to success on BJJ mats, every kid learns patience when being promoted from one belt to another.
Parents and BJJ instructors must realize that kids can get emotional and aggressive quickly. Punishing and shouting at kids does not help them become disciplined. Kids must be treated politely and calmly. It is required for parents and BJJ instructors to explain the consequences of irresponsible acts to kids tactfully so they don't repeat mistakes.
5.7. Avoid Procrastination and Laziness
With the help of BJJ training, kids learn to avoid procrastination and laziness by following a proper timetable. The parents also play an essential role in this as kids imitate the actions of adults. If they see their parents watching TV or using mobile all day, they would never be able to focus on their studies, BJJ training, and other responsibilities. So parents need to help their kids with self-discipline at home by engaging them in different activities.
5.8. Kid's Personal Growth
Kids can work on their personal growth through BJJ training, actively improving on their character. When kids enter a gym, they learn to show care and respect for BJJ instructors and teammates. They are bound to follow the rules and act with discipline, honor, humility, and self-control.
A self-disciplined kid on the BJJ mats has a positive attitude and proper conduct. He will be more focused and motivated to achieve goals and to make progress in BJJ training, academics, and personal life.
6. Conclusion
If a kid starts BJJ training early, it helps him learn self-discipline and self-control, ensuring he makes better decisions in life. Also, BJJ training teaches kids to be responsible students, citizens, and human beings.
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