The Ancient Art of The Samurai May be Just What a New Generation Needs

A new report by the Kaiser Family Foundation refersrespectful, and mindful behavior.
to the current younger generation as Generation M,Jujutsu is the ancient martial art of the samurai
which stands for media. They have found that thewarriors of Japan. In antiquity it was only studied by
youth of today are spending increased time with newthe elite, educated members of Japanese society. Its
media such as the Internet, and video games.study is therefore more intellectually intense, and
The report also shows that Gen M also consumesinvolves less brute-force than many other martial arts.
multiple media simultaneously. The below 18 year oldsJujutsu relies on principles of physics such as inertia,
may watch TV, read email, and chat simultaneously.leverage, and momentum which present challenges
The drawback to this multitasking may be a decreasethat foster mental growth.
in already shrinking attention spans. Kids may have aStudents of jujutsu also develop a greater kinesthetic
more difficult time focusing on tasks which requiresense. The physical benefits of practice include those
significant depth.of regular exercise plus increased balance, reduced
The benefits of martial arts training for children arestress, and greater self-awareness.
numerous. Many psycho-social studies have shownJujutsu, like other arts, always begins and ends with
martial arts training for kids may: lead to lowercourtesy. Students exhibit proper etiquette at al times
incidences of violence, create happier more easygoingand respect that the techniques they are practicing
demeanor, lessen anger and mood disturbances,can cause injury to others. For many students, the
increase self confidence. Studies also show thatpractice helps develop a sense of responsibility.
children who participate in martial arts have betterIn stark contrast to the fast passed media-rich life of
behavior and higher test scores in school.today's 8-18 year-olds, jujutsu offers children an
The martial arts offer children an opportunity toopportunity to spend time simply yet intensely focused.
intensely focus on a single skill at a time. WithThe benefits of practice are many, and it just may be
instruction by a teacher who acts as a gooda prescription for the technologically short attention
role-model, students begin to emulate courteous,spans.