advice for new young student needed

[decollet]

Hi, Im new to the forum and a mother of prospective student. After a bit of research, I'm trying to decide on a specific art for my child, a good instructor etc. Does anyone have advice on what is a good age to start a child in serious instruction or any other advice I will need before we get started? Thanks

[pineapple]

Hi Decollet!

 

I have trained children as young as four. At this age, they can learn a few basic moves.

 

I find the age where they can really get into the art starts at about 10 years old.

[krzychicano]

My son is 4 years old (will be 5 in feb.) and I am amazed at how much he can retain at that age. He is taking Kuk Sool Won with me (Different class ofcourse) and he is just loving it and even practices at home. I do not regret one bit putting him in so young. When I looked for a school I searched for a school that was traditional and was based on discipline so that my son can train his mind and his body.

[isshinryu5toforever]

It depends on the child. I helped teach a kids' class this winter when I was home on break. There were kids that were 11 and couldn't stand still. There were kids who were 7 or so and could stand perfectly quietly and listen and observe. I personally began when I was 5. I don't remember what I was like as a child besides a quick learner, because I remember testing for my yellow belt after 2 months of training. Like I said, it all depends on the child.

[SloMo]

At a young age I wouldn't worry so much about which art to choose but more on what type of teachers and class settings you can find.

 

For very young students ( 4 - 7 ) I would look for smaller classes with most, if not all, the kids being about the same age. If the classes are larger you should check the class / instructor ratio. Also the classes should not be very long. And most important, the classes should be fun for you child! If they have fun they they will enjoy the experience and want to continue for years to come.

 

Now there are some kids who can take things very seriously from a young age. It's important to find a class that your child can meld with. DIfferent styles have different methods of teaching.

 

Talk to the instructors and ask them what are their goals when teaching a child of a certain age. If you like what you hear, great! If not, then trust your instincts and find somewhere else.

 

Lastly, make sure you manage your expectations for your child. You won't see dramatic changes but you should expect to see small changes as time goes on.

 

OK, that's my two cents!

[VinnieDaChin]

BJJ can be started at a young age, its about the safest out there, and man oh man i wish id started as a little one.

[Grenadier]

In the current dojo, we set a minimum age of 5 years old. In general, at that age, most kids have started school in kindergarden, and have had a bit of exposure to listening for extended periods of time. There's also the matter of how children under 5 might not be physically developed sufficiently.

 

I realize that there are some exceptional 4 year olds that are physically and mentally more mature than most 5 or 6 year olds, but a line must be drawn somewhere, for the sake of consistency.

 

Whatever you choose, dcollet, I congratulate you on wanting to bring your child into the world of martial arts. There will be times where you might have to push the child by encouraging them to keep it up, and at other times, this can try your patience, as well as the child's patience, but it does pay off.

[Kieran-Lilith]

Our Sensei has a minimum of age six, but most the little ones in our class can't concentrate. I'd say about 8 or 9 is when they start getting serious enough to pay attention and learn things effectively.

[fangshi]

The age of the child is ready to begin a study of martial arts really depends on the maturity of that child.

 

The style is not so important as the teacher. A good school will have an experienced teacher teaching the childrens classes. Where some schools simply use the childrens class as a training tool for potenial promotions to higher ranks that is probably not where you would like your child to be. Ask about the philosophy of the school as not all are equal. Morals ethics and self discipline should top the list.

 

You should also include your child in this decision as he/she may have certain interests that you are unaware of.