ZENQUEST Martial Arts Center
  • HOME
  • FOR CHILDREN
    • CHILDREN'S KARATE
    • CHILDREN'S JIU-JITSU
    • KID'S PARTIES
  • FOR ADULTS
    • UECHI-RYU KARATE
    • BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU
    • MUAY THAI KICKBOXING
    • STRENGTH & CONDITIONING
    • MIXED MARTIAL ARTS
    • LAW ENFORCEMENT JIU-JITSU/ LEJJ
  • JOIN US!
    • GETTING STARTED
    • CLASS SCHEDULE
    • TESTIMONIALS
    • FAQs
  • NEWS
  • FOR STUDENTS
  • KID'S CORNER
  • ABOUT
    • CLASS SCHEDULE
    • INSTRUCTORS
    • CONTACT US
  • Online Store & Enrollment

The Good, The Bad, and The Zenny

6/8/2018

1 Comment

 
Picture
Martial arts schools typically teach a series of combative strategies for fitness and self-defense.  Many of them will also include (to varying degrees) some mental and ‘spiritual’ or emotional elements in their programs.  This can include things like:
 
·      Etiquette and social courtesies
·      Focus and concentration
·      Awareness and mindfulness
·      Self-control and discipline
·      Patience and perseverance
·      Discretion and de-escalation skills
·      Emotional stability and calmness
 
These elements of training are just as important...maybe more important to the student as staying physically fit and developing a solid skill set in your chosen art.  For most of us the need to defend our lives will be a rare occasion.  But, our daily lives benefit from social courtesy, focus, awareness, discipline, discretion and stability.
In the modern era, martial arts schools need to find creative ways to teach these principles to their students.  To run a dojo or gym like a Zen monastery would likely mean a financial end to the establishment.  Instructors also need to be careful not to cross over into a ‘religious’ area in teaching these principles out of respect for different students’ beliefs.
To be successful and still teach these principles to the majority of students, instructors need to make these lessons interesting and fun, and even get creative sometimes.  Many of the standard exercises in a martial art are designed to include these ideas.  Well organized schools will include a code-of-conduct or “Dojo Code” to reinforce these principles.  Certain drills or activities may not seem to have much value in martial arts training, but they typically do.   For kids, even games at the end of classes usually provide some skill building and lessons on qualities like fairness, sportsmanship, honor, self-control and attention to rules and structure.
These principles can take some time to learn, especially for children.  To truly develop as part of a student’s character these qualities usually take months or even years.  Regular training in the Dojo or “gym” under the guidance of experienced leaders and dedication to all the exercises WILL impart these qualities to those who are willing to learn.  This requires some trust and effort on the part of the student.  In the case of younger students, parental trust and support are also a key element to them learning these principles.
Students will go through many different phases and challenges as they learn the non-physical elements to martial arts training.  Sometimes they will have to define boundaries for themselves the “hard way.”  Listening carefully to their instructors and trying to absorb the lessons taught in the Dojo can help to minimize this normal part of learning. 
If a situation arises when a student has difficulty with any of the principles highlighted, it can often be turned into a “teachable moment” for them.  The student (and/ or parent) should be sure to talk to an instructor to understand better and get some perspective on the situation.  Whatever the case, the instructors will most often be able to help, and, turn a negative into a positive.  Well seasoned instructors have likely dealt with the same situation before, and are well prepared to make the best of any situation.  This is a case where trusting the experts can go a long way.  

1 Comment
John Carston link
7/20/2022 10:36:40 pm

It helped when you said that self-defense and combative strategies is the benefits of this training. The other day, my best friend told us that he was considering enrolling my nephew in Kobudo classes because he shows interest in it, and enhances his strength and discipline. I'm grateful for this informative article, I'll tell him that it will be much better if he consults a trusted martial arts class as they can provide more information about their services.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Calendar


    News

    September
    August

    July
    June
    May
    April
    March
    February
    January '23
    December 
    November
    ​October
    September
    August
    July
    June
    May
    April
    March
    February
    January 2022​
    December
    November
    October
    September
    August​
    July
    June
    May
    April
    March
    February 
    January 2021
    December '20
    November '20
    October '20
    September '20
    August '20
    July '20 
    June '20 
    May '20 
    April '20 
    March '20 
    February '20  
    January '20
    ​December '19
    November '19
    October '19
    September '19
    ​August '19
    July '19
    June '19
    May '19
    April '19
    March '19
    February '19
    January '19
    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    March 2014
    December 2013

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

ZENQUEST MARTIAL ARTS CENTER
55 PITTSFIELD-LENOX ROAD LENOX, MA 01240 | (413) 637 0656 | TRAIN@ZENQUESTMAC.COM
Site Design: Caroline Correia