Making friends is an important part of childhood. It seems like some kids have more friends that they can keep track of, some have a few-but lifelong-friends, whereas some children struggle to make meaningful connections with their peers.

In today’s tech heavy world, making those meaningful connections and relationships is harder than ever. We, including us and our kids, are more technically connected than ever. We can communicate with anyone around the world at an instant. This is a good thing.

However, technological connection can preclude real human connection. A child’s ability to make friends now, will also impact their ability to relate to the world in the future.

In my view, we all have three kinds of relationships, all of which can be both positive and negative. We have peer to peer relationships, near-peer relationships and what I call plus-minus relationships. A peer-to-peer relationship is straight forward. A plus-minus relationship is any relationship where there is a larger gap in age, knowledge or experience: teacher-student, parent-child, master-protege, etc. Finally, near-peer relationships also have a gap in age, knowledge or experience, but that gap is much smaller.

All three of these relationships develop a child into a well rounded person.

Children today are inundated with plus-minus relationships but are lacking in peer-to-peer and near-peer relationships. They go to school and come home and get on a electronic device. Even homework is prescribed on an electronic device! How can we say these devices are bad if they are being encouraged in the plus-minus relationships?

However, through these same or similar devices they are able to communicate with their friends without really connecting.

Kids don’t have the same opportunities to associate, relate and play with each other as they used to. Younger children used to go out and play together. For that matter, even when they played video games they used to do so in the same room. That is increasingly no longer the case. Pre-teens and teens used to be eager to establish their independence and leave the house to get together with friends. That is also no longer the case.

Interestingly, it is these supportive peer and near-peer relationships that fosters independence, risk-taking, and resilience in the future. And, without those relationships we see many of those qualities severely lacking in young adults (millennials).

NATURALLY, THE SOLUTION I RECOMMEND IS TAKING MARTIAL ARTS CLASSES.

Martial Arts training is a great equalizer for both children and adults. The martial arts school is agnostic to the participant. The mat doesn’t know about age, gender, status, intelligence, wealth etc. Everyone starts as a beginner, a white-belt, as the “new kid”.

As such, our martial arts school is extremely supportive. Most, if not everyone, remembers what it feels like to be an absolute beginner in a new place.

The American Karate Institute also contains all three types of relationships: peer, near-peer and plus-minus. And, there is opportunity to develop all three. Students will work and play with their peers, they will learn from near-peers and plus’s. Finally, they will have the opportunity to become a near-peer mentor or a plus themselves.

IN ADDITION TO JOINING OUR MARTIAL ARTS PROGRAM, HERE ARE NINE MORE TIPS TO HELP YOU CHILDREN MAKE MORE FRIENDS.

Be an emotional coach

Practice authoritative, not authoritarian parenting

Teach them how to communicate politely across mediums

Use story to help them see the world through they eyes of others

Educate them on reading non-verbal signals

Monitor their social life (as appropriate) both on and offline

Give them tactical ways to approach a group they may not already be a part of

Let them fall and get back up, let them learn how to cope

Create an awareness about bullying for them and you

Contact American Karate Institute for a Free Trial Class

At the American Karate Institute, we teach a way of life. Our Miami martial arts school and MMA Classes has developed a well thought out curriculum that teaches more than just the art of self-defense. We delve deep into our students’ technique, skill set, intelligence, intuition and overall physical fitness. Contact us today if you’re interested in mixed martial arts and self-defense classes and schedule your free-trial class!

About Angel Gonzalez

A 7th Degree Black Belt, Founder of American Karate Institute, Teacher, Inventor and Martial Arts Consultant. I have been involved with the Martial Arts for more than 43 years.

I was born in Havana, Cuba in 1956. In 1962 at the age of 6, because I was being bullied in school, my aunt enrolled me in Judo. I trained and competed as a child for 3 years with Instructor Heriberto Hernandez. In 1966 I immigrated to the United States to live with my aunt. I lived in several different cities before I moved to Tampa, Fl . At the age of 14, I practiced Uechi Ryu, a Okinawan style karate with Tom Alexander. In 1973 I began practicing a Japanese style of Martial Arts called GoJu Shorei under Sensei Mike Hayashi. In 1976 , after 3 years of hardcore martial arts training, I earned my Black Belt.

Sensei Hayashi’s traditional, intense, and disciplined Japanese training helped me develop a strong traditional martial arts foundation. I was one of the few students who stuck it out and earned my Black Belt. Regretfully, due to unexpected circumstances, Sensei Hayashi had to close the school down.

In 1976, after shopping around and visiting other schools just like you, my wife and I (read her story) enrolled at the Jhoon Rhee Institute of Tae Kwon Do with Master Bill Heimberger.

It took us seven years to earn our Tae Kwon Do Black Belts. We traveled to Washington DC to test directly under World Renowned Grand Master Jhoon Rhee where we were offered a teaching scholarship to become professional martial art instructors.

In 1981 we moved to Washington, DC to learn directly from Grand Master Jhoon Rhee. It was like going to college to learn a martial arts profession. We distinguished ourselves and found our true calling in life – teaching martial arts. After 2 years of intensive training, we moved to Miami, Florida to open our school and live the dream of having the best school not only in Miami, FL, but in the country.

We did not have the funds to open in a shopping center, but in 1983, American Karate Institute was established at the Ron Ehmann Park recreation center in Kendall adjacent to Killian High School.

Not only were we fortunate to have learned Martial Arts and become an instructor from the best, but we also made a great husband and wife team with a rare quality that cannot be taught – CHARISMA. Since we did not have the funds to advertise, we depended upon our charisma and teaching abilities to build the school by word of mouth. Charisma is a quality that often separates the best from the rest in the martial arts profession. There are a lot of instructors that teach martial arts, but there are only a few that teach it with charisma.

In 1989, due to a tremendous following, we were able to open at the location we now have today in the Crossings Shopping Village. Charisma along with a systemized martial arts program is what made the American Karate Institute the best kids program in the country.

In 1991 before MMA and UFC became popular, we made the switch to mixed martial arts. After meeting Royce & Rorian Gracie in Tampa Florida, I saw the value of mixed martial arts and knew that this was going to be the future.

In 2003, I was awarded instructor of the year by North American Grappling Association.

In 2010, I was given a US patent for the invention of the Ultimate Striker, a tool designed to help martial arts practitioners develop more power in their striking techniques and to increase their conditioning.

In 2011, I was given the Paul Harris Fellow award for my work in the community. This organization is devoted to the betterment of humanity.

Martial Arts Can Help Your Child Make New Friends