mamom

Thanks! I'm so glad we found a school because my son is so enthusiastic about MA in general. You can't wipe the smile off his face when he's in (a good) class - even if he's just doing sit-ups. I pretty sure this Dojo is not a McDojo because they didn't even talk about belts with me. They said for $50 you get a uniform and months worth of classes. If you like it then we'll talk about the rest. I went to another place and they were like in 2 years you can be a black belt. I almost jumped out of the chair and ran. I promised my son he could use the men's public restroom alone when he got his black belt I knew it would be at least 4-5 yrs at our old Dojo and it was the only way I could get him to stop asking! Then here's this guy just giving him his BB in 2 yrs.

Thanks for the advice. We tried the TKD Dojo last night and my son said that was the best place we had been to here! ( I agree.) He wants to go back. I found out the instructor also has a shotokan background and incorporated many of the techinques my son had already learned into the class. I have to help him with horse stance though - he doesn't quite get that. lol! He kept trying to do the ready stance he learned from his old Dojo.

My 6 yr old son began training in Karate, but we move to an area where there is mostly TKD. We have tried a Japanese based Ju Jitsu, but his goal is not self-defense and this class was too extreme for him. He didn't care for the choke holds! He really liked the punching, kicking & sparring aspects of his karate class. They also focused some on defense tactics, but kept it simple for beginners. When we moved our instructor discouraged us from switching to TKD. Is this common for instructors of different arts? After researching TKD, it seems to me TKD would be a good fit for my sons goals. Any thoughts would be helpful. Thank you for your replies.

I am looking for a new Dojo for my son who studied Zen Do Kai Karate for 6 months. We moved out of state and ZDK is not availble here. Quite frankly all I have found so far is McDojo's who want me to sign a 2-3 yr contract and wow my son will be a black belt at the age of 8/9! I am checking out a dojo tonight that is Ju Jitsu, but I am not familiar with this style. Is this a safe art for a young child to practice? I liked the instructor on the phone because he didn't try to "sell" me. He just said come and check us out to see if its right for your son. The class is specifically for 5-7 yr olds. Thanks for your help!

I live in North KC. Thanks for the replies. Sometimes you have to listen to your gut! I'll keep checking out other Dojo's. My son loved his old Dojo and his life's ambition is to be one of those Power Ranger actors. He actually knows they are not superheroes, but actors who have studied MA. lol!

Hi we've just moved from TX to MO and are in the process of checking out new Dojo's. My son was taking Zen Do Kai Karate (for about 6 months), but there are no ZDK schools here. I am running into a lot of schools that promise a black belt in 2-3 years. Is this common because at our Dojo it was at least 5-6 years? They never promised or advertised a time frame to earn one. Also I ran into a sticky situation with a friend who wanted our sons to take a Hap Ki Do class together, but I just felt uncomfortable with the Dojo and my son said he wouldn't go back. This school said he would get his black belt in 2 years. Is the HKD belt system just really different? My friend is signing her child up, but I think its a big mistake. Any advice would be helpful. Thanks