Balance is the Key in Competition
Competition is a driving force in America. From sports to the corporate office, it can make us better and push us to heights and feats we previously thought were impossible. In Jiu Jitsu, we train a martial art for self-defense or exercise. After training for a time, you may be compelled to try competing. The same goes for kids. They may try it out at the behest of their parents or want to see what they can do against kids from other gyms. To cultivate a competitive nature in kids it’s important to balance teaching them the hard lessons and protecting them from the harsh reality of life. Finding this balance can bring out the best in your child while keeping them in a healthy mental state as well.
Competing is a lot of fun, especially if you win. It can teach kids goal setting techniques, how to deal with adversity, and how to handle losses when the match didn’t go quite their way. However, there is a flip side to this perspective and competing will have the opposite effect. Kids will have a lot of stress before and during matches and could get depressed if they lose. These are both valid viewpoints on kids competing, but as I stated balance is the key. Finding a way for your child to have a strong mindset for competition and at the same time, keep a strong self-image can be tough for a parent. Motivation and encouragement are the building blocks to attaining balance. If it can be attained, your child will skyrocket to the top in many aspects of life.
