Kids who practice Kung-Fu are healthier, happier and get better grades!

In the “good old days”, parents worried more about their children being home by the time the street lights came on than whether they got the recommended amount of daily activity. Today, however, the world has changed and we are faced with a myriad of challenges that were unheard of only a generation ago. For instance, today’s parents are advised to monitor their children’s body mass index (height-to-weight ratio) as the obesity epidemic among children ages 6 to 19 has reached nearly quadrupled from what it was in the 1960s.

Physical activity such as Kung-Fu & Martial Arts will not only help today’s children by preventing them from becoming obese or helping them to lose weight if necessary, it will also teach them healthy habits that can last a lifetime. Here are my “Top 10 Reasons Why Kids Should Take Kung-Fu Classes”:

1. A HEALTHY, LIFETIME HABIT
Kids who exercise are more likely to keep exercising as adults. Because of our emphasis on personal responsibility, respect, discipline, and control; and our acceptance of individuals of all levels of physical skill, Kids Kung-Fu classes provide a great alternative to o ther sports, which may tend to exclude certain children.

2. MAINTAIN A HEALTHY BODY
The exercises in a Kung-Fu class help Kids improve cardiovascular function, build muscle, and achieve and maintain a healthy body weight. These are the habits that will serve kids well into the adult years.

3. MAINTAIN A STRONG BODY
Regular physical activity such as Kung-Fu helps build and maintain strong, healthy muscles, bones and joints. Since Kids are generally more flexible than adults, a comprehensive stretching curriculum goes hand in hand with any good Kids Kung-Fu class.

4. MARTIAL ARTS DEVELOP OTHER SKILLS
Because Kids Kung-Fu curriculum emphasizes Courtesy, Modesty, Respect, and Integrity, Kung-Fu aids in the development of important interpersonal skills. In addition, Kids Kung-Fu at our school promotes the self-discipline necessary to set and achieve life goals. Of course, it also offers some of the best in self-defense training.

5. FEEL BETTER AND SLEEP BETTER
In conjunction with a healthy diet that is low in fat, artificial flavors and colors, and preservatives, vigorous physical activity such as Kids Kung-Fu classes improve the quantity and quality of children’s sleep. Brain function improves when a child is well rested as compared to a child that has an poor sleeping pattern.

Master Michael Parrella is a 6th Degree Black Belt in Kung-Fu and has been training for almost 30 years. He and his staff teach Kung-Fu to Children of all ages in the Long Island, New York area. The school is called Master Parrella’s Martial Arts Centers