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Focus and wood breaking, how can these two items be related?

First off, I have never met anyone that thought wood breaking was not fun. Both children and adults develop an increased sense of self-confidence. Block breaking for adults just takes a little more self-confidence and, of course, power. The focus part of breaking comes in two parts. Focusing on the target is first and past the point of impact is second. Your mind must focus past the point on impact to the place where you have penetrated the surface of the wood or block. The physical focus of hitting the target is the simple part the mental focus of seeing past the point if impact is most important. Another point of wood breaking and focus lies in the ability to close out distractions. This is especially true with children. Mental thoughts of mom and dad are watching, other people are standing next to me, and what if it does not break. Adults are not any different other then what they are thinking about. The ability to close out all distractions for a few seconds is a well-won quality. Breaking and focus go hand-in-hand to build confidence and self-esteem in martial artists.

Martial art claims to increase focus and concentration in its student both adult and children. This article will stick with focus and wood breaking. Focus on reading, tasks, listening, traffic, teachers, and a host of other items. I will agree that not all people, children and adults, focus 100% of the time. However, increasing focus in martial arts student is one of the objectives of martial arts training. Increasing a child's focus can lead to better grades in school and increased reading comprehension. The longer a child and adult can focus on assignments and reading the more they can accomplish. Longer focus time a child can develop the greater their concentration. Longer focus time for adults can mean greater productivity at work and more tasks completed at home.

In the martial arts class, we use focus targets, hanging bags, focus mitts, and large rectangular kicking shields. The purpose of these items is mainly to develop focus by hitting the target in the correct place although the hanging bag develops power in kicking and punching. What develops greater focus is the quantity of repetitions or striking the target repeatedly. Throw in sparring where the target is moving and a person better have focus and concentration. The combination of hitting focus targets and light contact sparring can increase focus in both children and adults. You may be thinking what all this that has to do with wood and block breaking.
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JUN 3

What Does Martial Arts Teach?

posted by Rusty on June 03, 2010 1:45 as The Martial Arts

What Does Martial Arts Teach? That questions has been asked many time since I started teaching martial arts many years ago. We all know martial arts improves balance, coordination, strength, agility, speed and reflexes. We all hear that it helps improve a persons self-esteem. That is true but self-esteem comes and goes with different circumstances and activities. The other psychological event it does improve is self-efficacy. This is the believe in self to over come and adapt to changing circumstances and situations and come out in a favorable conditions. It is like an MMA fighter who goes in the cage against an opponent who has won their last 8 fights and this is your first. Self-efficacy is the total belief that you can win because of attitude, training, resolve, and that been there done that mindset. It is more then confidence and self-esteem.
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JUL 3



Children and the martial arts is a no brainer. Children dominate the martial arts by being 70% of the population of most martial arts schools. I have personally seen some academies with as much as 90% adults, and they were not MMA schools. Children need what martial arts teaches them; respect, focus and concentration. I know, martial arts schools all say they teach things. But this is not true! Some schools are about the money and some schools want to make your children tough and ready to defend themselves. Self defense is a great thing to know but to have confidence to face challenges and difficult situation is a better thing. Difficult situations such as, being bullied and able to walk away from them without a physical confrontation is more important than some self defense move. Remember that in physical confrontation things almost always go wrong. There is no wrong if your child has developed strong sense of self (self-confidence).
Why martial arts is great for children and adults is that it is an individual journey in physical, mental and social challenges. Yes adults gain as much if not more than do their children. There is not team or coach to please. There is no age limit or seasonal games. I personally know many people who have been training in the martial arts as long and longer than I have (38 years).
What makes martial great for children is first off is the structure or the military like attitude of the academy. The uniform, bowing (same as saluting), belt ranks, saying yes sir and no sir (respect), great exercise, promotions and family type activities. The next great reason is the constant reward they get for there effort which are small victories to there challanges. This is where increases in their confidence are realized.
With all this said, martial arts for children is a great thing, but it has the same effect on adults.
Master Rusty Solomon
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