What is Anger Management?
What is anger management?
Here at True Balance Karate in Downers Grove, Illinois, we have a social-emotional learning program called True Character.
I’m Master H, owner and chief instructor here at the studio. I have two master’s degrees in education, and we’ve developed this curriculum to meet the needs of our youngest students, who are three or four, and our oldest student, who is 86.
Defining Anger
This month, we are talking about anger management. We’re going to start by defining what anger is and what it looks like. When we talk about anger management, we’re discussing how to respond in a healthy way when we feel angry. To do that, we first have to understand what anger is.
A lot of times, anger masks other feelings and emotions. Kids often understand anger in simple terms—like when their favorite toy breaks, or when they have a disagreement with a friend over whose turn it is in a game. They may say they are angry, but often, they’re feeling disappointment, frustration, or sadness.
Sometimes, we just use the word “angry” when we feel overwhelmed because things aren’t going our way. Adults can relate, too. You might have a day where everything is going smoothly, and then suddenly, the furnace breaks, the dog gets sprayed by a skunk, and everything piles up. All those emotions build up, and we just feel angry.
Positive Coping
Anger management is really about managing negative emotions and responding in a healthy way. Throughout this month, we are focusing on properly labeling emotions. At the studio, when students work with partners on hand pad drills, they may feel frustrated if their partner isn’t holding the pads steady. Instead of just feeling “angry,” they can learn to recognize and communicate their frustration in a productive way.
We also encourage students to observe their partners—looking at facial expressions and body language to understand how others are feeling. This helps build empathy, which is an important part of managing emotions.
As we continue this month, we will explore how our bodies react to anger, what happens in our brains, and strategies for staying calm. Take a moment to check in with the people around you, because when we feel seen, understood, and supported, it helps us manage our emotions better.
Thanks, and I’ll see you on the mat!
True Balance Karate was founded in 2012 by Master Sue and Paul Helsdon.
We offer kids karate lessons for pre-school children ages 3-6 and elementary age kids ages 7 and up. These lessons are designed to develop the critical building blocks kids need — specialized for their age group — for school excellence and later success in life.
Our adult martial arts training is a complete adult fitness and conditioning program for adults who want to lose weight, get (and stay) in shape, or learn self-defense in a supportive environment.
Instructors can answer questions or be contacted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 630-663-2000. You can also contact us here. True Balance Karate is at 406 Ogden Ave Downers Grove Illinois, 60515 (next to CVS) Check out our Facebook!