Sensei Kimberley Sue – Fourth Degree Black Belt – North Brampton Academy of Martial Arts
In the martial arts we repeat techniques to create muscle memory. If a student has to use their karate, their bodies need to act instinctively. Katas are great examples: a series of movements set in a pattern, blocks and punches and kicks. Learning a Kata takes dedication and focus. Standing alone and doing a kata takes courage. It requires memorizing each technique in proper order.
When we are nervous, we can forget the obvious; we can forget a math equation during a test, or the next move in a kata. Muscle memory is crucial! It lets us perform each move properly even though we are nervous. This skill is gained after repeating something over and over. Though it might seem useless, or boring, when an intimidating situation comes around, you will be ready to act.
This skill is transferable to school. The repetition in Karate gives your children the ability to study for longer hours and practice formulas over and over. When it comes to the day of the test or the presentation, instead of scrambling to remember a word or a number, it will be reflex to take a breath and use the muscle memory. My kids have told me countless times how easy it is to remember and perform well during exams. Here’s a testimonial from one of our brown belts:
“Karate has taught me many things like responsibility, self-regulation, initiative and goal-setting. All of these things have helped me become a stronger and more motivated student. Karate has shown me that I can achieve anything that I put my mind to and this lesson is what inspires me to try harder in school and actively seek learning opportunities. Karate has also helped me become a more goal driven student and because of that I now know what I want to pursue in and beyond high school. Many of the lessons that I have learned at the dojo I regularly apply to life inside and outside of school walls.”
Larysa Martin, Grade 10
