By MJ Zelya –

Part of the responsibility as a home-shelter for our children is to ensure not only intellectual development, but also good physical and emotional development as well. So besides education, developing the children’s physical abilities and motor skills is one of our priorities — including extracurricular classes … like karate!

Karate is useful in many ways. It can serve as a method of self-defense, and is also one of the most complete physical and mental sports for young people, encouraging bone and muscle development. The children have fun while learning discipline, tolerance, and respect.

The benefits of this martial art include:

• Improvement of psychomotor coordination.
• Development of skills, reflexes, and reactions.
• A boost in energy.
• Development of discipline and respect for those around us.
• An increase in concentration.
• Helping the child know how to control himself.
• Improvement in values, such as tolerance and responsibility.
• Helping generate confidence.
• Development of strength, balance, speed, and flexibility.

Gaby, our Children Development Coordinator, says: “Our kids are very excited about their karate lessons. At first, I thought that only our boys were going to participate, but as the girls watched them, they became more interested. Our sensei agreed to have boys and girls. Now, most of our boys and girls are training in karate every Tuesday and Thursday. They are divided into two groups according to their age range.

“We have observed the benefits of karate lessons. Since they are exercising, they feel happier and healthier. They are learning self-control and discipline through the routines. They are also starting to practice meditation as a tool for self-control. This will help them all their lives to reduce stress and handle everyday situations in a better way.”

Thanks to our sponsors, we have the opportunity to give our children the tools to be confident, respectful, and in control of situations that they will undoubtedly face in the future. By becoming a sponsor you can help us ensure that we will be able to continue offering our children opportunities like these.