Concussions, fractures, nosebleeds, and sprains are just a few things that can happen when you are injured in a martial arts class. So it is not surprising that as a young parent, you are concerned for your child’s safety at a karate class.
Kids Karate Classes can be a great exercise for your child. Martial arts can channel your kids’ energy and teach them a few vital lessons on self-discipline. However, there are several things like safety precautions that you need to consider before enrolling your kid in a karate class.
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Ensuring The Safety Of Your Child While He Takes Karate Classes
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Martial arts lessons for young kids are usually not risk-prone. But injuries happen due to physical contact between two individuals in a karate match. So taking steps for your child’s safety is a must before he goes for his karate lessons.
1. Do A Thorough Risk Assessment
Prevention is said to be better than cure, so a thorough risk assessment before the classes prevents quite a lot of trouble. The person who will teach your kid has the greatest responsibility when it comes to ensuring safety.
So check out if the instructor at a karate school has past experience in handling young children. Also, find out if there have been any serious accidents and who was at fault.
Usually, a well-experienced person who is good at dealing with kids is the right choice for training your little ones.
Again, all forms of karate are not the same. Some forms are more aggressive, and falls are more frequent. So depending on your child’s age, the availability of safety measures etc., you should choose the martial art form that is the safest.
2. Conduct A Warm Up Session
Most instructors will make sure that the child warms up adequately before he can start practicing his moves. However, in order to be on the safe side, ensure that your child warms up before he attends a class.
A warm-up session essentially prepares the body for the impending stress and strain. Mastering any form of martial arts requires rapid movements and a great pace. So if a child’s muscles are not well prepared, he will inevitably get a muscle sprain when he attempts to move fast.
Warm-up sessions improve the blood flow to the muscles. They also improve a person’s ability to stretch to get the full range of motion in a muscle. So ten to fifteen minutes of warm-up is good for any karate student before he starts his classes. Include activities like running and jogging in the warm-up session so that the child’s stamina gets a boost as well.
3. Get The Correct Protective Gear For Your Kid
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Karate classes are conducted on special mats that have protective padding. So even if your child has a fall, he will not hurt himself seriously. However, if you are still apprehensive about your little one getting hurt, get the following protective gear for him.
- A helmet- A helmet protects your child’s head. They will prevent any head injuries and thus prevent chances of concussions.
- A shin guard-It is like padding that covers the shin bone of the thigh. Fractures in the shin bone are painful and caused by sudden impact.
- Chest and rib guard- Your child’s ribs have to face the maximum impact of the karate chops of his opponent. So it is prudent to get a rib guard for your kid. However, the rib guard should be the right size, or else it will hinder your child’s movement.
- Hand guards or gloves- These gloves have thick padding in the areas around the thumb and the fingers. So when your child is fighting an opponent, his hands will remain protected if he has a karate glove.
4. Keep A Tab On The Emergency Measures
Source: ourkids.net
Serious accidents and fatalities are indeed rare in a karate class for kids. However, it is better to be prepared in case of an eventuality. So before you enroll your kid in a martial arts class, check the levels of their emergency preparedness.
Look for the following things in a karate class.
- Ability to give CPR- If somebody in the karate class knows how to give CPR, the injured child will get immediate attention.
- Availability of ambulance services-If a child collapses during a martial arts session; he will need immediate medical attention. So if the karate classes have a tie-up with a hospital or an ambulance service, the child will get immediate attention.
- Availability of a proper first-aid kit. A kid will need a few pain relievers or bandages if the injury is less severe. So it is essential that a martial arts class has a first-aid kit that has pain medications, bandages and tapes at all times.
5. Teach Your Child About The Importance Of Following Rules
If the person follows all the rules of martial arts, he should not get injured at all. Most injuries happen because learners do not follow the instructions properly. So ensure that your child is a good listener before you send him for a martial arts lesson.
If a kid is not good at following instructions, he will inevitably hurt himself. So train him well so that he learns the importance of following all the instructions of his teacher.
6. Insist On A Trial Session
Many martial arts schools organize a weekly trial session for a small fee. Parents are encouraged to see a class in progress at these trial sessions. So you must insist on a trial session before you enroll your kid in the classes.
Conclusion
Learning any form of martial arts has innumerable benefits for a young child. However, if he gets severely injured, it may have long-lasting consequences. Moreover, if a child gets badly hurt, he may be unwilling to undertake any physical activity after the incident. So as a responsible parent, take all steps that you can to make your child’s martial arts classes fruitful and injury-free.
