Milana, 4, ready to work out at her first sparring class at Coquille Martial Arts

Every student at Coquille  Martial Arts has their  favorite activity. For Milana  Fortune, soon to turn 5, it is  anything that involves sparring:  sparring with foam  padded sticks or “swords,”  flag sparring and now, putting  on sparring gear and  sparring with the big kids.  Training in the martial arts  does not make someone  more aggressive or apt to  hurt someone. Training in  the martial arts gives children  an accepted outlet for  this kind of play. Even in  the absence of toy weapons,  children will pick up a stick  and pretend to sword fight,  or turn their hand into a gun  and say “bang.” The trick is  to direct martial play in a  positive manner.

The martial arts, by definition,  are the arts of war as  Mars is the god of war  in Roman mythology. But a  close look at the origins of  most martial arts should dispel  the idea that it‘s all  about war or fighting. The  common denominator for  martial arts, whether they  are from China, Russia or  Japan, is they were practiced  as a way to meditate and  focus, relax and better oneself,  while following ideals  of behavior and  honor. Much has been written  about the physical benefits  of martial arts: increased  strength and balance, better  posture, lowered blood pressure.  Together, the idea of a  healthy mind, body and spirit  make the martial arts an  ideal training discipline for  children. Then there is the  structure in the teaching  methodology, which helps  them learn, and to focus, to  show respect for themselves  and others. It is a continual  thing. Especially in a society  that often gives conflicting  messages about the virtues  of self control versus the  rewards of immediate gratification.