WHO IS COMBAT CLUB?
WHY WE SEE THE BENEFITS OF MARTIAL ARTS EVERY DAY.
Combat Club was founded by Patrick Lockton. Patrick trained as a Krav Maga instructor in Europe with some of the most respected practitioners in the world. He quickly established his classes as one of the largest and respected self defense schools in the US, incorperating multiple forms of martial arts into his classes. Patrick built a team of dedicated instructors around him and continues to teach, including training actors for movies. Recognising that different people have different requirements, Patrick developed new classes for including one dedicated to children from ages 6 onwards. This he called the Combat Club.
BENEFITS OVERVIEW
Learning self defense through martial arts can help a childs growth in several key areas. This includes physical development, fitness, confidence, respect, discipline, focus, ambition as well as things that are not always obvious, such as social skills, relationship building, goal setting, leadership skills and critical thinking.
THE BENEFITS
There has been multiple studies, including one involving 1,600 children on how martial arts improves physical fitness in preschool and school children, specifically enhancing cardiorespiratory fitness, speed, agility, strength, flexibility, mobility, coordination, and balance. Children experience improved reaction time, better posture, enhanced spatial awareness, and increased bone density from the weight-bearing activities, while the bilateral nature of martial arts techniques (using both sides of the body) promotes better overall coordination than many other physical activities. The progressive training structure allows children to develop these physical attributes gradually while building confidence in their bodies, creating sustainable fitness habits that often transfer to improved performance in other sports and daily activities.
Being in a safe but challenging environment such as a martial arts class allows children to build confidence and make them comfortable in group environments. Rather than many sports that involve winning and losing, there is a real focus on individual improvement. Each move mastered, technique learned, fitness drill completed more easily gives the child a sense of self improvement at a pace that works for them. The same research we covered, involving over 1,600 children shows that martial arts training produces measurable improvements in confidence and self-esteem, with studies finding high correlations between martial arts practice and enhanced self-confidence, particularly among children who achieve success within their programs. Eventually a Combat Club member can begin our belt ranking system, which creates regular opportunities for achievement and recognition, allowing every child to experience success through their own merits, which builds genuine confidence and self-esteem.
These are pre-requisites of learning a martial art and like all skills it can be taught and improved. Through the right approach and repetition. We help our students develop mentally as well as physically. Research shows that martial arts training significantly improves children’s self-regulation and impulse control, with studies demonstrating measurable improvements in classroom conduct, focus, and behavior management after just 3 months of training. The structured environment teaches respect through daily practices like bowing, following protocols, and addressing instructors formally, which helps children develop habits around respectful behaviors that transfer to their home and school settings. Children with ADHD particularly benefit from martial arts, as the training strengthens brain regions responsible for attention and impulse control while providing practical tools like breathing exercises and mindfulness techniques they can use in difficult situations. Unlike external discipline imposed by parents or teachers, martial arts helps children develop internal self-control through goal achievement and personal responsibility, making them partners in their own behavioral improvement rather than just recipients of someone’s rules.
The partner and group based nature of martial arts training creates natural opportunities for cooperation, communication, and conflict resolution as children learn to work together developing empathy and understanding of others’ perspectives. It has been shown to reduce uncontrolled aggression allowing them to properly channel their energy positively. Combat Clubs controlled class environments allow your child to meet other like-minded kids from all walks of life, developing friendships along the way.
Martial arts will naturally teach your children goal-setting through its structured progression system. The step-by-step nature of martial arts training helps kids of all ages break down large objectives into manageable tasks, teaching them patience and persistence. This structured approach to achievement can then be transferable to other areas of their life, helping a child set and reach academic or personal goals.
Research shows that martial arts training develops important interpersonal skills for your child. This includes respect for themselves and others, listening skills, motivation, initiative, and supportiveness. This coupled with the rewards they see for their effort and positive progress, is natural training for core leadership skills. Scientific studies have demonstrated cognitive improvements in children who practice martial arts. Participants in the martial arts training demonstrate a significant improvement in the areas of inhibition and speed of processing. This helps with problem solving (especially under pressure), focus, mental flexibility and the ability to adapt. This is why the Combat Club is proud to see the growth of our students and reinforces our commitment to their development.