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The boundless energy of elementary school students can challenge the patience of any teacher, parent or coach. But one ancient form of self-defense claims it can channel that energy into improving a child's discipline, focus and concentration.

Sound impossible? Area martial arts instructors swear by the benefits of the self-defense practice that teaches punches, kicks and blocks to all skill levels.

"To be quite honest, the physical is a smoke screen," said Paul Ramos, the chief instructor and director of Wu Shen Tao, a martial arts program in Takoma Park.

The intensely intricate moves that demand perfection from every muscle of the body also demand perfection from the mind, Ramos said.

Jittery elementary school-aged children suddenly become focused and calm as they practice punching and kicking routines.

"It's giving a child, whose mind is everywhere, something to look at," he said. "They can focus on one thing and leave everything else out."

At Gary Lattanzio's after-school martial arts class at Glen Haven Elementary School in Wheaton, a noisy bunch of children in grades 2 through 5 bounces around the gym before class. That is, until Lattanzio, the program director and instructor of A.S.K. Martial Arts in Silver Spring, arrives.

"You have five seconds to be in line," he yells. "When you're in line, I want you standing at attention."

The 20 to 25 barefoot children scramble to the positions they were given the week before. It's only their second class of the semester but already they know to stand still until ordered to move and speak only when spoken to.

And yet, every child seems happy to be there.

That's because children secretly crave the discipline, Lattanzio said.

"I'm a great believer that kids want direction," he said. "And without direction, they tend to go the wrong way."

Lattanzio said the great secret of martial arts is teaching children the mental life-skills they need to be successful — listening, concentration, focus, discipline — under the veil of learning self defense.

Both Ramos and Lattanzio said mental skills practiced in martial arts also help the classroom and improve a child's behavior. Ramos said the best martial artists are also the best students.

"Kids adapt," he said. "You give them a few principles and they can take it far."

Ramos explained that martial arts treat the brain like a muscle — the more you work it, the stronger it becomes. So children are working their concentration and focus "muscles" at the same time they perform complex martial combinations, he said.

A side effect of a stronger brain muscle is maturity.

Gerry Sanders said his 7-year-old son, Jared, and his 4-year-old son, Tobias, have built self-confidence beyond their years by practicing martial arts in Lattanzio's class.

The other day, Sanders said Jared was faced with a bully at school. Instead of hitting him with the many punches and kicks he's learned, Sanders said Jared decided to tell the teacher because he didn't want to get in trouble.

"I never knew my son would say that," Sanders said. "I have nothing to be but proud."

Jared Sanders said his martial arts classes have helped him be a better athlete and student.

"The more we focus, the more we get done," he said about both his martial arts class and his studies. "The more we pay attention, the more we learn."

Ramos said there are as many types of martial arts. He stressed to have that to have the maximum effect on children, they should be placed in the type of class that suits them best. The militaristic attitude of Lattanzio's class may not suit everyone, he said.

But as soon as a child finds the right class, both instructors said parents will notice their child has more patience, better listening skills and an overall ability to self-regulate.

And once they've mastered that, "they can do anything," Lattanzio said.