Beginner question

[dalerich]

I'm looking to start my family in a program and I'm trying to find the proer martial art to study. I have a 5 yr and 4 yr boy. I'm looking for the differences between the arts. Which arts are best and worst in certain areas. I looking for protection as well as discipline. Please let me know.

[fangshi]

Hi Dalerich

 

The most important thing about finding a school for your children is to find a great teacher . Often the head instructor will have very little to do with the childrens classes (espeacially the beginners ) . It is very important to watch the actual classes that your children will be in . You should get a good feel for how your childs instructor relates with the children , his/her knowledge of what they are teaching and how they teach it . At the age your children are at the type of style is somewhat secondary to quality of teaching they receive . A good instructor can inspire your child to achieve his best at what ever he chooses to do ( in and out of the school) .

 

I started my oldest in judo at the age of 6 1/2 and she is 9 now and still loves it . Often schools will have an age requirement . Between the ages of 6 & 9 are common . It depends on the child though . If yourself and the teacher believe that your children are ready then give it a try . I have some friends that I have trained with that started their children at 4 or 5 and have done well and others that needed to wait a few years .

 

Good luck

Edited March 18, 2005 by fangshi

[Treebranch]

4 and 5 is pretty young to start MA's. I have to daughters and I started teaching them when they around 7 or 8 years old. They can understand things a little better and follow direction. I would say some kind of Karate or Judo have programs for kids. That's a tough one.

[dalerich]

Is there any art that is more geared towards discipline I don't want to be training a little lawsuit. I want the knowledge of the art to show only as a last resort. I learned how to fight as animals (hidden cobra etc.) This to me was more war like than a discipline or art. The instructor was great but for college students not kids. I heard judo is more passive being that some always had to make a move on you first. Karate was more aggressive hit him before he hits you type thing. I not sure what other arts are out their or how they differ. I will watch a class first and study the teachers relationship to the students. I'm in charge of my kids up bring and don't want to mess it up.

[fangshi]

I heard judo is more passive being that some always had to make a move on you first. Karate was more aggressive hit him before he hits you type thing.

I think a BIG part of that is the attitude of the teacher . My oldest girl has been doing judo for 2 1/2 years now and so far the worst thing that has happened is that a boy tried to kiss my daughter and ended up on his butt.

 

Had a hard time not laughing when the principal called to tell me that one .

 

I have been happy with my daughter expeirence with judo but like I have said the teacher is a big part. I don't see anything wrong with Karate or TKD trainning for children . It is all in the attitude that is taught .

[taikyoku_forever]

My oldest girl has been doing judo for 2 1/2 years now and so far the worst thing that has happened is that a boy tried to kiss my daughter and ended up on his butt.

 

LOL!!!! Holy cow I would have loved to see that one!

[karatekid1975]

I'll move this to "Getting Started" section. You'll get more help there, and more people from different types of Martial Arts to answer you

 

Anyways, I agree with fangshi. The instructor is more important than the style. You don't need to know anything about martial arts to know if he is good or not. Go with your gut feeling (or your parental instinct ). You'll KNOW if he/she is not a good instructor for your children. Your best bet is to go watch as many classes as you can at different schools.

[Shorinryu Sensei]

I used to be an elementary school teacher and have also taught children as young as 6 martial arts myself. My personal opinion is that children younger than 8 are marginal at best as to whether or not they are going to be able to truly do the martial arts. Yes, they can wear a gi and learn some movements, but 50% of the time you'd be better off and cheaper dropping them off at a babysitter rather than a martil arts class because that's all the instructor is going to be doing for them...babysitting.

[isshinryu5toforever]

I can refute that argument only out of personal experience. I was 5 when I began martial arts, and I actually belt tested with the adult class in my first two months. So, it is possible to have a child that is calm enough, and pays enough attention to attend a real karate class. My classes then were 2 hours long. I don't want to hear the McDojo argument either, because I can assure you that this school is most definitely not a McDojo we have kids there who are as old as 10, been there 6 months, still waiting to test. That being said however, these cases may be few and far between. I haven't had many children under the age of 6 in the dojos that I have taught at. I will agree with SS when he says that most of the time the instructor would be babysitting a child under a certain age. It would be good to step back and take an honest look at how your child does at listening, paying attention, and standing still for extended periods of time. Patience is not somethng common among youth, not to knock anyone's kids, but I even find myself drifting sometimes during classes and I'm in college lol. Just consider those few things before you enroll your child in a martial arts school. And good luck in your search.

[pineapple]

For a child of 4 or 5 years of age, I would look for a school that teaches them discipline and respect. Technical training can come when they are older.

 

From my personal experience, I have found it difficult to get too technical about techniques with anyone younger than 10. There are exceptions as always.

 

They are not too young to learn character development.