Getting the best out of our young people

Photo by Panther Taekwondo Black Belt Academy.

We believe in getting the most out of our young students. And no-one gives their best if they stay in their comfort zone!

Parents agree at the start of a Panther Taekwondo Black Belt Academy class that their children will be pushed quite hard. This goes against cautious attitudes you quite often hear expressed. I believe it has two benefits.

1. When we ask more of them, we build up their mental resilience as they rise to the challenge.
2. We get them really fit!

These days, too many children are not in great shape

I know how many parents have serious concerns about the fitness and health of their children. Unfortunately, they have good reason. The days when we could take for granted that all children are fit from running around. climbing and playing sport all day are over.  Modern,  pressurised, time-poor lifestyles and above all concern about traffic in cities limiting freedom to be outdoors mean that too many children are not in good shape.  

So we are looking to do something about it! We always ask parents what they want from the class, and they ask us how they can help their children along. Discipline is always number one – and right behind it comes fitness.  Next comes focus – and improvements in fitness are very much part of this, because mind and body work together and affect each other.

This week in my blogs, we’ll be looking at these.