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  • Locations
    • French Creek (Avon)
    • Garrettsville
    • Geauga (Chardon)
    • Hillcrest (Lyndhurst)
    • Lakewood
    • North Royalton
    • Parker Hannifin Downtown
    • Vermilion
    • Warrensville Heights
    • West Park-Fairview
    • West Shore (Westlake)
  • Youth Development
    • Winter Break Camp
    • Y Cares
    • Camp >
      • Day Camp
      • Fine Arts Camp
      • Sports Camp
    • Child Care >
      • YMCA Preschool
      • BASE >
        • Grant BASE
    • Youth Sports
    • Community Youth Services
    • We Run This City - Youth Marathon Program
    • Adventure Guides
  • Healthy Living
    • Virtual Programming
    • YMCA LIVE
    • Aquatics
    • Group Exercise
    • Personal Training
    • Health & Wellness Programs >
      • Blood Pressure Monitoring
      • Diabetes Prevention
      • LiveSTRONG at the Y
      • Real You
    • Active Older Adults
  • Social Responsibility
    • Community Impact
    • Y Haven
  • Y Stories
  • About
    • COVID-19 POLICIES
    • Our Mission & History
    • Our Impact
    • Diversity and Inclusion
    • Media Coverage
    • Press Releases
    • Leadership
    • FAQ
  • Careers
  • GIVE
  • Join
    • Corporate Payroll Deduct
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YMCA of Greater Cleveland

MARTIAL ARTS

Featured Class: Coming soon!
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The practice of martial arts includes all major focuses of fitness; cardiovascular development, strength training, flexibility improvement and mobility enhancement. In the course of a single martial arts training session of 30 to 45 minutes a person can engage in exercises that incorporate both cardiovascular capacity improvement and strength development. These same exercises, known as drills in the martial arts world, often also promote the development of better flexibility and joint mobility.

There is great wisdom in the drills of most martial arts training. While Boot Camp and Zumba are fantastic and will improve your base fitness level, they may not deliver the full package of health benefits of quality martial arts training. The movements of martial arts not only help you get in better shape, they help you develop the ability to protect that body you have worked so hard to build. Martial Arts training develops functional movement and balance teaching you how to avoid injury as you get stronger and healthier. Martial arts training is, and always has been, the “total package” when it comes to finding a fitness program that fits all needs and delivers the best returns for the time and energy invested.

Do yourself a favor this year. As you look for ways to make good on that New Year's resolution to get into shape and protect your health, consider martial arts training. The YMCA of Greater Cleveland offers only the highest quality martial arts programs at each of our 12 branch locations that are run by certified Instructors who can help you reach your goals safely and help you enjoy the journey to better health and harmony of Spirit, Mind and Body!

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Martial Arts have a Positive Impact on Children

Martial arts is a fantastic activity for children to be involved in, helping keep them active, healthy, safe, and instilling wonderful character traits like self-esteem, focus, discipline and confidence. Millions of parents around the world have enrolled their children in local classes to help them be more focused at school, more responsible at home, and better able to protect themselves, just in case. At the YMCA of Greater Cleveland, our kid’s martial arts programs blend traditional values like caring, honesty, respect and responsibility with a modern martial arts style that’s motivating, challenging, and so much FUN that they keep coming back for more. Kids love the exciting classes, and parents love to see their children growing up stronger, safer, healthier and happier. Check out our programs and contact us to get started.


The well-rounded teachings of martial arts can positively impact kids by enhancing their life-skills and placing emphasis on their values and attitudes.

Martial Arts employ techniques that build strength, endurance, flexibility, posture, balance and coordination. While the physical benefits of martial arts are undeniable, this popular sport has many non-physical benefits on children as well.

Martial Arts Enhances Self-Esteem in Children

Competitive sports are fantastic for many kids, however for children who don't excel at them; these sports can lead to diminished feelings of self-worth. Martial Arts are an excellent confidence booster for children as it eliminates the need for them to compete or compare themselves to their peers. Instead, it encourages kids to draw on their own strengths and strive for their personal best.

A confident child feels more valuable and has the ability to face life’s challenges head on. Self-assured children are more resilient to peer pressure, and are less likely to get into serious trouble or do drugs.

Martial Arts Improves Kids’ Focus and Self-Discipline

The mental focus that’s required to execute martial arts moves can spill over into a child’s everyday life and eventually improve their study habits, school performance, listening abilities, and also the ability to follow directions.

Kids who are focused have an easier time setting and achieving goals because they’re not intimidated by the hard work, and persistency required to live their dreams. The practice of martial arts can also improve the concentration of kids who suffer from attention disorders.

Young children are impulsive by nature, so they often make decisions based solely on their emotions. Over time, the disciplined teachings of the martial arts will enable kids to make clear and appropriate choices throughout life.

Martial Arts Teaches Kids Self-Defense

Parents never want to think about it, but there may come a time when a child is forced to defend himself/herself against someone trying to do them harm. While it is unrealistic to expect a child to go toe-to-toe with an adult three times his/her size, a kid who knows martial arts techniques has a better chance of catching an attacker off guard and escaping to safety. To find a style of martial arts that suits your child, sit in on a few classes at the Y and observe the teaching methods and student-teacher interactions. The YMCA of Greater Cleveland Association also offers a FREE introductory lesson to help parents get a general feel of what the martial arts would be like for their child and what the Y has to offer.

LOCATIONS

Parker Hannifin Downtown
French Creek (Avon)
Garrettsville
Geauga (Chardon)
Hillcrest (Lyndhurst)
Lakewood
North Royalton
Vermilion
Warrensville Heights
West Park-Fairview
​
West Shore (Westlake)

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