Name another education, sports or training establishment that gives kids all these benefits
Tuesday 14 February 2023
All schools, sports or training incentives will justifiably lay claim to the benefits they provide to children. The difference with Meiji is that we provide a combination of all of them! Where else will they get all this in one place, i.e., our Dojo?
Self-confidence
Some kids are already confident, but many are shy or unsure. That's part of growing up, which is why it's so important to do something about it when they're young. At Meiji, there are clear, attainable steps to achievement, adjustable to every individual's own pace, with belts & stripes to be worn with pride. Everyone is valued at Meiji, and children acquire the skill of setting values and goals. They learn better how to cope with issues, on the Dojo mat and in life generally.
Respect and self-respect
These two factors are inextricably linked. When a kid shows no respect, it usually means their self-respect, or self-esteem, is also low. A surprise to many at first is the respect shown to them, by their Sensei and by the other students. This is why we bow when we enter the Dojo, and why we bow to each other. Whilst there are obviously different skill levels, everybody is equal as an individual, and respected equally. Children 'grow' quickly in this environment, because they trust it, and their self-respect increases proportionally.
Earthing the stress, the anxiety, the depression
We live in anxious times. Children are vulnerable to scare stories, which they often take very literally. It is up to us the give them hope and something worthwhile to strive for. After all, we'll be handing over our world to them in the future, for them to cope with. It's often a knee-jerk to conclude that drugs fix such ailments, and we're not qualified to argue with that. But what we can offer is that, in our world, stress, anxiety and depression are bottled-up energy which needs earthing. Focusing on developing stamina and skill, while having fun in a team environment, will often kick all the worries into touch.
Improving cognitive functions
A stimulated body produces a flow of energy through the muscles, including the brain muscle! It's like a wake-up call. We tend to think better when we're fit and feeling good. It trains our memory, too.
Fighting obesity
This modern disease has sadly found its way to the very young, and there are current initiatives to consider drugs and even surgery. Before you embark down this extreme path, however, consider that obesity is both in the mind and the body. A sluggish mind makes sluggish decisions, which affects physical activity. Then depression sets in, and eating often compensates. It's a vicious circle. Meiji isn't about punishing the obese, but rather focusing on attitude, teamwork, gamesmanship, involvement, movement, balance, and waking people up to the mental and physical joys of healthy exercise in a fun environment.
Sleeping better
It isn't just physical tiredness that induces sleep. Sleeping better comes from going to bed satisfied that you've had a good day, made some friends, achieved something and been recognised for it. You get all that at Meiji.
Better posture, sharper reflexes
The Meiji environment is focused on standing and moving correctly. And reflexes are automatically developed through padwork and sparring. We live increasingly in a world of people hunched over screens, tablets and smartphones. Some osteopaths are predicting that we're in danger of developing children with curvature of the spine in later years. So it's a refreshing, and some would say vital contrast to get on that Dojo mat on a regular basis, stand up proud and straight, move from stance to fighting position, flex the body and free yourself.
Learning that failure is a good thing
Fear of failure is negative and unnecessary. We should cheer when we fail, because by studying why we failed, we learn so much about ourselves. More importantly, we can now correct it. Failure is a stepping stone on the road to success. In the Dojo, you should always push yourself to fail. It's the fastest way to improve.
Setting goals and acknowledging achievement
The young can struggle with what they can do and what they want to be, and this is natural. So is the tendency to change their ambitions as they grow older. However, learning to set goals is good early on, because you get used to the discipline of setting a pathway and measuring your achievement. This is why the belts & stripes system is so important. Little steps or big steps, it doesn't matter, the system adjusts to the natural speed of the individual - we cater for tortoises and hares - everyone's a winner!