The benefits of children training martial arts includes the obvious increased: self-confidence, discipline, and co-ordination.  In addition to fun and exercise, other benefits of note include increased executive functioning skills and socialization. The impact on improving executive functioning skills (which are more closely correlated to success academically, professionally, and socially than IQ), can not be stated enough. Martial arts training is one of six recommended interventions shown to aid executive function in children 4 to 12 years old (Science, August 19, 2011).