Last September after receiving my first-degree black belt, I enrolled my 5-year-old fraternal twin boys in karate classes at Eclectic Karate® in West Bridgewater, Massachusetts.

Prior to enrolling them in karate, they were receiving physical and occupational therapy for gross motor delays, sensory integration dysfunction and motor planning issues. At the time, they were attending therapy twice a week, which meant a lot of running around on my part. I knew that I would eventually start them in karate, but at that time therapy was the priority to ensure that they would have age-appropriate motor skills. As an adult student, I knew how karate had helped to build my mind, body and spirit, but I didn’t realize how valuable it would be for my twins. When my twins had completed therapy, I realized that karate was more motivating and equally as beneficial as therapy and helped them to develop important life-skills.

Encouraging Differences
Unlike sports, there is no competition, and there are never any “bench-warmers” in karate. All children participate in karate no matter what their skill level. This is a very attractive feature, especially for twins. Society often compares one twin to the other by asking questions like, “Who’s more outgoing?” Karate allows my twins to be individuals and to train at their own ability level. They develop skills at their own rate and are not compared to one another or any other student.

Each of my boys has different abilities that are recognized and encouraged in karate. My boys are physically opposite. One is very limber and flexible, but has limited upper body strength. The other twin is not very flexible, but is strong. In karate, they each shine in their own ability level. Flexibility allows for good stances and kicks while strength helps with punches and form. I often hear them sharing their expertise, “Hold your leg up like this and kick.”

Developmental Help
My twin’s gross motor delays have significantly improved since karate. Karate training is an excellent follow-up to therapy, because it reinforces many developmental gross motor skills. Boys and girls will benefit from karate with or without developmental delays. During the warm-up portion of class, the children work on strength, endurance, balance and flexibility. They then work in small groups on the “basics” of karate including stances, blocks, strikes and kicks. I have seen physical improvements in how my boys move. My twins love karate because they’re having fun with friends while learning new skills.

Beyond the Physical
I am fortunate that I also train at Eclectic Karate®, because I have the benefit of being directly involved in the boy’s classes and the ability to help them carryover their new-learned skills. All students start karate at the same white belt level. They advance through the ranks based on their own individual accomplishments. My twins are elated when they’re advanced. When they receive a stripe on their belt, they know that they have earned it. These small “rewards” for hard work and persistence are provided throughout their training and make my twins feel special and proud of their accomplishments.

I was surprised to see how karate has developed self-confidence in my twins. One of my boys often relied on his twin to make friends and feared interacting with peers on his own. A few months after starting karate he started to become more outgoing by taking the lead in meeting new friends. Instead of running to me when an unfamiliar child at the playground accidentally pushed him, he turned around and “used his words” to inform that child not to push.

Karate teaches more than kicks and punches. It teaches children to have respect for others, to be focused and disciplined, as well as how to be safe. I have seen a great improvement in their focus and attention. Watching them in class the first few months was like fingernails on a chalkboard. They were looking all around, asking too many questions and hardly paying attention to instructions. Although I was freaked out about their behavior it didn’t seem to bother the instructors, who provided guidance and encouragement.

Today, my twins are often at the front of the class leading the warm-up and quickly learning new things. They can stay focused throughout most of the session and follow the rules of the class. These days I chuckle to myself when I see another mother of twins anxiously watch her children during their first few months of training. I reassure her that they will grow in karate too (as I gently try to remove her fingernails from the chalkboard).

Teaching Safety
Safety rules and daily reminders about showing respect are often reviewed with students. Although safety issues like, “stranger danger,” “stop, drop, and roll” and “Halloween safety” are discussed at home, it’s always nice to have another authority figure reinforce these important life skills. My twins respect and admire the instructors and, because of that, they will often remind me of safety issues like, “Mom, don’t talk to strangers.”

Karate has become a passion and a way of life for me. I am happy that my twins can share in this passion and develop a better sense of self-confidence, individuality, strength, control and perseverance. As I was finishing up this article, I asked my twins the same question their instructor asks them daily, “What’s the most important thing about karate?” They quickly turned around and answered me in unison: “Only use it if you have to.”

Want to see more?

• Karate Kids: Children and Martial Arts
• Martial Arts for the Mom-to-be: Qigong, Tai Chi and Other Practices for Pregnancy
• Fighting Back: Children in Martial Arts Save Lives
• Opponents or Teammates? Tackling Sibling Rivalry in Twins
• Talk about it!