(Written by Lee Douglas, Head Coach at West Coast Krav Maga)
Hey Preston Parents,
Let me paint you a picture.
Your child is a cheeky chatterbox at home, but the second they hit the playground they shrink down, shoulders in, lips sealed. You know how bright they are. You know how kind they are. But somewhere between the kitchen and the school gate you start wondering:
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You’re not imagining things.
We asked 91 local mums and dads—none of whom train with us yet—how confident they think their child is right now:
| Confidence rating | Number | Percent of Total |
| Very High | 62 | 68% |
| High | 4 | 4% |
| Moderately High | 9 | 10% |
| Low | 16 | 18% |
Look at the gap: loads of “very high” answers, but almost one in five see their child as low-confidence. Here’s the kicker—both kinds of kids end up on our mats, for the very same reason:
Confidence can wobble. Even the kids who seem bullet-proof can dip when friends fall out, a teacher snaps, or a penalty is missed in PE. And the shy kids? They feel every bump twice as hard.
The 3-Day Confidence Dip (And Why School Can’t Plug the Hole)
Researchers tracked kids for six months and discovered that one rough week—friend-group drama, a missed goal in sport, an off-hand comment from an adult—sliced measured confidence by a third… and it stayed down for three days. Three days is long enough for a shy child to dodge eye contact, hunch their shoulders, or decide they’re “bad at” something and never try again.
Teachers want to help, but with 30 pupils and six lessons to juggle they can’t install grit one child at a time. That’s our job. Or yours—if you fancy some DIY.
Why Martial Arts Hits the Sweet Spot (When Football, Gymnastics & Piano Don’t)
Most activities pile on skill but forget nerve. Martial arts flips it:
Micro-Victories
Every new drill wins instant feedback. That “Yes—nailed that palm-strike!” moment rewires a brain for I can do this.
Pressure, Then Relief
Controlled sparring mimics real-life stress: heart racing, mind whirring… then breathe. Kids learn to stay cool when adrenaline hits. Next time someone squares up? Been there, done that.
Respect Baked-In
Bowing, eye contact, helping smaller teammates—repeat it weekly and it’s no longer a rule, it’s a habit.
A Quick Story From the Mats in Fulwood
Ella, age 9, bounded into class louder than our sound system—great at home, friendless at school. Four weeks later she was leading a partner through pad drills. Her teacher emailed: “She just asked two classmates to join her project—first time all year.” Confidence redirected, job done.
“I Don’t Want My Kid Turning Into a Mini-Tyson…”
Relax. We’re West Coast Krav Maga, not Fight Club. Our kids’ syllabus is:
Voice first – “Stop, back off.”
Move second – create space, break a grab.
Strike last – always under control, gloves on, coach watching.
Parents tell me they want children who can “stand up, not start up.” That’s exactly what we build.
Three Things You Can Try Tonight (Even If You Never Step Inside Our Dojo)
Situation Five-Minute Fix
Friendship fallout: Role-play a calm “Can I play?” opener at home—familiar words lower the fear spike.
Club nerves: Ask the coach for the first drill so your child walks in knowing one thing.
Perfectionism spirals: High-five clumsy kicks. Show mistakes are data, not doom.
Do those for a week. Watch body language at the school gate—you’ll see the difference.
Ready for the Full Upgrade?
If you’ve been Googling “kids martial arts classes in Preston” or “kids martial arts Fulwood”, here’s your next move:
Book a free trial class at our Preston HQ (Unit N, Broughton Business Park, PR2 9ZA).
Turn up—we’ll lend the gloves.
Watch as your child learns the simplest self-defence move on Earth and walks out two inches taller.
My promise: If after the first session you can’t see an extra spark in your child’s eyes, you owe us nothing. Simple.
See you on the mat—
Lee