STRATHPINE, Queensland October, 2013 – As the number of childhood bullies and victims increase, more and more Brisbane parents are searching for ways to help their children deal with childhood bullying. In particular, helping children to grow a greater sense of self-worth and self-confidence to combat the effects of bullying is seen as a high priority within the Brisbane community.
“Afterschool activities such as martial arts can really help young people develop the much-needed personal, interpersonal and intrapersonal skills that will help them to achieve their life potential,” explains Strathpine martial arts classes instructor Damien O’Flaherty. “Martial arts goes hand in hand with promoting mental and physical health – in particular helping to maintain fitness, promoting defensive (and not offensive) self-protection, building character, and expanding the mind.”
Damien has experienced this personal growth through his own journey with martial arts, and that’s why he started the Strathpine self defence classes for kids at Factor10™ Martial Arts. According to Damien, the belt-promotion system is not limited by age, which really encourages children to stretch and grow themselves, while developing their self-confidence. The children set goals and desired achievements to advance to higher belt levels and feel great about themselves when they achieve their goals.www.factorten.com.au/
The team at Factor10™ Martial Arts in Strathpine survey everyone who inquires with them and they know that although parents expect learning martial arts to be part of the process, this is not the main reason they enrol their children in these Strathpine self defence classes. “We know from our research that the most common reason students enrol in our Strathpine martial arts classes for kids is to develop confidence. Parents seem so concerned that their children lack confidence and will not be able to cope, but they are able to let out a sigh of relief when they see their children building friendships and starting to believe in their ability to achieve,” Damien says.
Unlike other martial arts schools, children as young as four years old are encouraged to attend Factor10™ Martial Arts’ Strathpine self defence classes. Damien explains the benefits, “We take this age group and teach them with a modified curriculum. They learn the same stuff, we just teach it at a slightly different pace, in a slightly different class format, so they can learn like any of the older students – but they learn these lifelong tools before they even enter the school system and have a chance to be bullied.”www.factorten.com.au/
A very satisfied mother of a student attending the Brisbane self defence classes says, “Mitchell started with Factor10™ Martial Arts academy in October 2007, originally to build up his confidence. His confidence is not the only thing that this has helped him with. He is a different boy. He is confident, respectful, well mannered, very thoughtful and super energetic. My husband, Michael and I are so proud of him and the super boy he has become.”
The Strathpine martial arts school, Factor10™ Martial Arts, helps students reach their highest potential and even offers free self defence classes for children. For more details, visit www.factorten.com.au/.
