Organized sports have been advertising based on "character building" for a long time, long before the martial arts industry picked up that line and ran with it. And sports do build some good traits, leadership, teamwork, fair play, perseverance, etc.
But they are side effects, not primary goals. Putting a child in a activity they don't want to do to teach them "discipline" is the kind of reasoning that probably led to having a undisciplined child in the first place.
Well, they can be side-effects but I think they're necessary elements of a good team player and one is either going to develop them or they're not. In team sports it's a lot easier with youth because if you don't use cooperative skills, don't listen, don't hustle, find a way to make yourself part of the whole, then it's likely you won't play much. I'd call that incentive to gain key requirements for your position and coaches can and *do* help with that - if they're good coaches.
The point of putting youngsters into team sports is not so they can have a crapload of trophies to decorate their bedrooms or bachelor pads with - it's to teach them the principles of teamwork, hard work, discipline, self-control along with the value of fitness.
For martial arts, or any activity, to have a positive effect on a person it has to be something they want to do.
I think that's true for the most part, though not necessarily always true.
As martial artists, and some of us instructors I think it is important to remember the side-effects of what we do, which include "character development" if done right. But it seems that there are a lot of schools that go on and on about discipline and character, yet have no idea where those things come from in relation to the martial arts. Instead they seem to think it's about sharp stances, bowing, screaming "yes sir" and winning trophies for looking like a little soldier on pajama parade.
Hm.
While the "YES SIR!" or "YES MA'AM!" is encouraged it's more about attitude and focus. If a kid is down or had a bad day or bored or distracted, making them yell these can help them focus - it's not the only way, but it's a traditional way that seems to have worked for ... ah ... ever. :uhyeah:
But the sharp stances, bowing and other things you mentioned: Well, I'm sorry Andrew but this is where I disagree with you. This is more about a striving for personal excellence and self improvement. I don't expect a 7-year-old to fully understand what those things mean ... but they can get that lesson and emulate it in other areas of living, working, learning. If the teacher's a good one who asks for parent and teacher reports on the child's development and character outside of school, the incentive to excel is created as is the lesson that a person is who they are, wherever they are. They are a good person at school, at home, in the dojang and on the playground. They are good people with good work ethics who set good examples on the field, on the mat or in the ring or at a party.
I do want to touch on the "soldier" comment - there is a middle ground between creating little soldiers and running a punching and kicking day-care. We try to balance that - make sure the kids have fun but know there are times for seriousness. This is also an important life lesson.
It might feel like your teaching those things, but your not. It's load, in your face, and feels like its working, but it's more like going on a bacon and ice cream diet to get healthy. Even if you lose weight, your in worse condition then when you started.
I think the first part of this is wrong and the second part ... uh ... well ... hm. I think you're saying if you think you're teaching kids how to be better people you're actually doing them more harm than good? And I really don't think that can be said generally without visiting every single kid's program in the world which you clearly can't do.
Cheers.
For some reason, some messages come across better when delivered by others, such as their karate instructor. For his part, he tends to have a message nearly every class... these messages build on each other and reinforce each other through repetition and through great examples he brings up which the kids can relate to through their training and through their experience at school, etc.
). 
