By Bridget Sautel, 5th dan black belt
It is crucial for teenagers to have healthy ways to release stress that comes with school, homework, and maintaining the social aspects of life. When participating in a taekwondo class, the student is so focused on what they are doing, it is equivalent to a form of meditation. When the student walks into the classroom, they leave everything at the door, and all the focus is put towards exercise, memorization, physical strength, and having fun. When all the focus is put towards these activities, the mind is pulled away from the stressors of everyday life, and the brain gets a much needed break. While the body is getting a workout, the mind is still actively learning at the same time. When you join a Colorado Taekwondo Institute class, and probably in other Littleton karate classes, you will be expected to attend class at least a couple times a week. Consistency is a valuable skill to acquire, especially as a teenager. Consistency will allow the individual to have something constant in their busy lives, which will be key to continued stress relief.
One of the most important elements of teenage life is surrounding oneself with friends and acquaintances that are good influences, that will provide steady positivity and motivation. This will allow success in school, sports, social life, and home life, just to name a few. The life-long friends you will find at the Colorado Taekwondo Institute are especially unique, in that they will be the best influences in a multitude of ways. The main reason for this, is the bond that transpires with one another during taekwondo classes and events. This bond forms because of all the working out and sweating together, commitment to the same martial art, and most of all, the passion you share for the art of taekwondo. This positive influence will supply the individual with treasured qualities, including dedication, self-directed learning, and a bright and focused mind. These will all help a taekwondo student grow and stay engaged to a positive mindset. This will then flow out into other areas of life and allow success in school and at home. Prospering in these areas will open up so many opportunities in the near future and later on in life. At the Colorado Taekwondo Institute, and possibly in other Littleton karate classes, there will be a strong support circle that will help you progress through the belts and keep improving as a martial artist. These will be life-long friends that will provide support not only at teen martial arts classes, but also in daily life outside of taekwondo.
Another characteristic that is imperative to develop during teenage years is how to maintain physical fitness and keep the body in good shape. As the years go on this can become more difficult, and it will become critical to establish healthy long-term habits. The continued attendance that is expected at the Colorado Taekwondo Institute and at some Littleton karate schools, will help to develop a healthy habit of consistency for the student. Physically conditioning the body, and learning exercises to stay in shape and develop flexibility, are also valuable habits to learn at a young age. Good health should never be taken for granted, and taekwondo will help keep the body young and fit. In addition to physical health, focusing on mental health is just as important. Excelling in school, and discovering new hobbies and friends, are key factors for favorable mental health. There is a huge educational piece that is incorporated into classes at the Colorado Taekwondo Institute, and students are expected to complete monthly homework’s and written tests along with the progression of belts. This educational component will carry over to schoolwork and will allow the student to stand out from the others, which will lead to a wider range of opportunities in the future. Developing and maintaining physical fitness early on will enable an individual to continue to do taekwondo at older ages and stay active for as long as possible.
The most invaluable quality a teenager can acquire is to be able to start something and then stick with it. This can mean different things depending on the area of life. In school this could mean sticking with a hard math problem until it is solved or finishing a difficult essay. For a teen martial arts student it could mean getting to class even when feeling unmotivated or lazy. When life or school may get tough, the instructor or teacher will help the student regain motivation to push through the hard times and continue to progress. If something gets hard or doesn’t come easy, it’s natural to lose focus, but being able to regain this focus after a short period of time is what matters. The big picture always needs to be in mind, and the student should always have short-term goals AND long-term goals to constantly be reaching for. This assortment of goals will ensure motivation to get through the small bumps in the road and keep pushing through. When things get hard or life gets busy, time management comes to the rescue and makes it possible to juggle all of these parts of life, in order to become successful. When a student becomes unmotivated, it can be beneficial to notice all of the qualities the Colorado Taekwondo Institute can provide – self-directed learning, self-discipline, stability, and lifelong physical fitness and learning. Remembering these valuable qualities can help regain motivation. This will lead to an all-around prosperous and positive continuous lifestyle.
Teenage years can be a difficult time, but with healthy outlets such as teen martial arts, along with good influences and habits, these years can become some of the most important and valuable for what’s to come. Success will be inevitable, instead of out of reach. There’s always going to be highs and lows, but how these are handled and overcome, is what will define an individual’s success.
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