Benefits for Children

• In a survey of 200 parents whose children (ages 5-11) have been in Martial Arts training for at least six months:
  98% said their childrens’ behaviour improved!
• Out of 127 teachers who had hyperactive students in Martial Arts for at least six months:

(Ages 5-8) 79% improved
(Ages 9-11) 87% improved
(Ages 12-16) 97% improved

• Out of 172 adults enrolled in Martial Arts training, when questioned about their attitude towards life:

(Ages 18-30) 97% said it had improved
(Ages 31-50) 100% said it had improved
(Ages 51-74) 100% said it had improved

• Academic teachers with students in Martial Arts training who had practiced for at least one year:

(Ages 5-8) 95% improved dramatically
(Ages 9-12) 81% improved academically
(Ages 13-18) 91% improved academically
Source: According to the United States Martial Arts Foundation Chairman, Robert Ferguson.

Gracie Barra Temecula is dedicated to stopping bullying in schools and social situations. Our kid programs give your child the confidence to deal effectively with bullies and promote peaceful resolutions in today’s increasingly violent schools. Some interesting recent statistics from the North Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Center for the Prevention of School Violence:
BULLYING STATISTICS

• Thirty percent (30%) of U.S. students in grades six through ten are involved in moderate or frequent bullying - as bullies, as victims, or as both - according to the results of the first national survey on this subject.
• Bullying is increasingly viewed as an important contributor to youth violence, including homicide and suicide. Case studies of the shooting at Colombine High School and other U.S. schools have suggested that bullying was a factor in many of the incidents.

RECENT STATISTICS SHOW THAT:

• 1 out of 4 kids is Bullied. The American Justice Department says that this month 1 out of every 4 kids will be abused by another youth.
• Surveys Show That 77% of students are bullied mentally, verbally, & physically.
• In a recent study, 77% of the students said they had been bullied. And 14% of those who were bullied said they experienced severe (bad) reactions to the abuse.
• 1 out of 5 kids admits to being a bully, or doing some “Bullying.”
• 8% of students miss 1 day of class per month for fear of Bullies.
• 43% fear harassment in the bathroom at school.
• 100,000 students carry a gun to school.
• 28% of youths who carry weapons have witnessed violence at home.
• A poll of teens ages 12-17 proved that they think violence increased at their schools.
• 282,000 students are physically attacked in secondary schools each month.
• More youth violence occurs on school grounds as opposed to on the way to school.
• Playground statistics - Every 7 minutes a child is bullied. Adult intervention - 4%. Peer intervention - 11%. No intervention - 85%.

ACCORDING TO THE BUREAU OF JUSTICE STATISTICS - School Crime and Safety:

• 46% of males, and 26% of females reported they had been in physical fights.
• Those in the lower grades reported being in twice as many fights as those in the higher grades. However, there is a lower rate of serious violent crimes in the elementary level than in the middle or high schools.
• Teenagers say revenge is the strongest motivation for school shootings
• - 87% said shootings are motivated by a desire to “get back at those who have hurt them.”
• - 86% said, “other kids picking on them, making fun of them or bullying them” causes teenagers to turn to lethal violence in the schools.
• Students recognize that being a victim of abuse at home or witnessing others being abused at home may cause violence in school.
• - 61% said students shoot others because they have been victims of physical abuse at home.
• - 54% said witnessing physical abuse at home can lead to violence in school.
• Students say their schools are not safe.

STATS 2001:
SELECTED SCHOOL VIOLENCE RESEARCH FINDINGS FROM 2001 SOURCES

• According to the latest poll, thirty-two percent of parents fear for their child’s physical safety when the child is at school. Thirty-nine percent of parents with a child in grade six or higher are more likely to say they fear for their child’s safety. Twenty-two percent of parents whose children are in grade five or lower fear for their child’s safety. (Parents Not Overly Concerned About School Environments for Their Children, Gallup News Service, 2001)
• Bullying generally begins in the elementary grades, peaks in the sixth through eight grades, and persists into high school. (Addressing the Problem of Juvenile Bullying, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 2001)
• Among students, homicide perpetrators were more than twice as likely as homicide victims to have been bullied by peers. (School-Associated Violent Deaths in the United States 1994-1999, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and U.S. Departments of Education and Justice, 2001; findings published by the Journal of the American Medical Association, 2001)
• Overall, almost eleven percent of a representative sample of youth reported bullying others sometimes, and almost nine percent admitted to bullying others once a week or more. Experiencing bullying was reported with similar frequency, with almost nine percent bullied sometimes and just over eight percent bullied once a week or more. (Bullying Behaviors Among US Youth, Journal of the American Medical Association, 2001)
• Of a representative sample of youth, almost thirty percent reported some type of involvement in moderate or frequent bullying, as a bully, a target of bullying, or both. (Bullying Behaviors Among US Youth, Journal of the American Medical Association, 2001)
• Bullying was reported as more prevalent among males than females and occurred with greater frequency among middle school-aged youth than high school-aged youth. For males, both physical and verbal bullying was common, while for females, verbal bullying and rumors were more common. (Bullying Behaviors Among US Youth, Journal of the American Medical Association, 2001)
• Research shows that those who bully and are bullied appear to be at greatest risk of experiencing the following: loneliness; trouble making friends; lack of success in school; and involvement in problem behaviors such as smoking and drinking. (Addressing the Problem of Juvenile Bullying, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 2001)
• Seventy-four percent of 8 - to 11-year-old students said teasing and bullying occur at their schools. (Talking With Kids About Tough Issues: A National Survey of Parents and Kids, Kaiser Family Foundation and Nickelodeon, 2001)
• Though recent studies show that as many as seventy-five percent of children have been victims of bullying during their school careers, about half of parents in this survey see bullying as no problem for their children. (Are We Safe?: The 2000 National Crime Prevention Survey, National Crime Prevention Council, 2001)
• Thirty-nine percent of middle schoolers and thirty-six of high schoolers say they don’t feel safe at schools. (2000 Report Card: Report #1, The Ethics of American Youth: Violence and Substance Abuse: Data & Commentary, Josephson Institute of Ethics, 2001)

Are martial arts right for your child?

• An alternative to team sports: There are many advantages to participating in martial arts instead of team sports, such as soccer and baseball. If you have a child who does not enjoy team-related activities, martial arts provide a way for your little competitor to learn not only the physical skills of athletics but also the mental skills such as concentration and memory.

• Safer than other activities: Study after study has shown that participation in a well-run martial arts school is far safer than nearly any other physical activity your child is likely involved in, including sports such as soccer.

“Kids are always showing up for class with injuries they’ve gotten in another sport,” says Chris Goedecke, author of Smart Moves: A Kids’ Guide to Self-defense and a karate black belt. “I tell them, ‘You ought stick to something safe — like karate.’”

• Confidence builders: Some kids begin martial arts with self-confidence problems, because they are small or fragile or being bullied, and they quickly begin to look and feel more confident. Martial arts training can even be an introduction to good manners.

• Working out the aggression: Another advantage of the martial arts disciplines, according to instructors, is that they discourage aggressive behavior outside of class. Because children who “bully” others often have self-esteem issues, the martial arts helps to strengthen self-confidence.

Who can participate?
Age: Some say a child is never too young to begin a martial arts program. Some schools offer programs for children as young as 5. These classes offer basics in coordination, motor skills and following directions
Special needs: In addition, if your child has been diagnosed or is suspected of having an attention deficit disorder (ADD), you may way to consider a martial arts class. The martial arts provide an opportunity to strengthen all of your child’s body - including the important one housed up in the skull. Using mind-body disciplines, martial arts seem to address the short attention spans of today’s children, even those diagnosed with ADD..
Gender: Because martial arts emphasize technique over power, the playing field is more level when compared to many other sports according to some experts.
Choosing a martial arts school
How do you choose the martial arts school that’s right for your child? Like anything else, you do your homework, ask questions and visit schools convenient to your home until you find one that offers the right program at the right time and price. Once you’ve narrowed it down to these basics, you have the most important thing to consider.
How comfortable you feel entrusting your child to the instructors? Learn about their qualifications. Talk to other parents of the school’s students, and ask plenty of questions. Visit schools and watch classes. Notice how the instructors act with the children. You are looking for instructors with plenty of patience. Do the other students pay attention when the teacher speaks? Does the instructor seem to have control over the group? Ask how the school addresses self-control, conflict resolution and issues of respect with the children.
Next, you want to make sure that the school offers the proper space. Safety, of course, is key. The physical space and equipment — mirrors, kick bags and sparring gear — should be clean and well maintained. The classroom should have a smooth, flat floor, with adequate padding for children.

Important considerations
As with anything else in this life, “Let the buyer beware.” Because you are doing your homework, consider these points when making a decision about choosing martial arts for your child:

• Instructor/school credentials: One trip to the local sports equipment store and you will find that it’s very easy to purchase a “black belt”. When you consider that, you see how important it is to check the
• credentials of the instructors at your school. Ask which martial arts association each instructor belongs to and where it is headquartered, then call the organization and verify the instructor’s rank and background.

• While it’s absolutely true that practicing a martial art can tame even the most aggressive child, it’s important to note that some schools, however, are less effective than others at emphasizing the importance of self-discipline and respect for your opponent. So parents should always talk to potential instructors and observe classes to see how aggression is handled.

• Lastly, as in any sport, the most dangerous children are the ones who haven’t learned to control their own bodies and don’t know the rules yet. These things will come with instruction, at Gracie Barra Temecula we make sure children are closely supervised during sparring.

With special attention given to motor skill development, mental focusing attributes, and children’s inherent capabilities.  Children’s and Teen classes are designed to emphasize:

• Discipline
• Respect
• Confidence Development

The development of these qualities and principals are given extra attention because they build a strong foundation in the three battles:  the Mind, the Body, and the Spirit.If developed properly, then success is assured.