Is Piano Study Compatible With TSD?

[Jinxx0r]

Don't get me wrong, I know you can get hurt (I had 2 ribs broken during free sparring), but what I was getting at was a method that may not be right for her level of experience.

I would have the same concerns if my son was doing this. There is a difference though between training accidents and improper training methods. IMO (and it's just my opinion), kids shouldn't be hitting heavy bags and props at a beginner stage (emphasis on heavy).

[Fu Man]

From my experience, your child should be okay. I studied classical piano and TKD at the same time for 8 years with no problems at all.

Ted

[scottnshelly]

Tell her to quit piano and go full on Martial Arts.

But seriously, that's the only advice i have right now... long day.

[JaseP]

In my experience as an instructor, parents tend to either be over-protective of new students or completely apathetic. There isn't much middle ground. Methinks Mom doeth protest too much...

Working on getting kicks higher is normal for a beginner... Don't worry about that.

From the description of the "heavy bag" it sounds like a Century Wave model. I can't see how using it will hurt a kid, although she should be working on her technique to get better.

[Kicks]

Practice her punches with her at home. Have her do proper form while doing slow punches. Each slow punch should have some intensity. Check her alignment as she slow punches and check it at the point of contact. Have her hold the punch at point of contact so you can check it.

Make sure her wrists are not bent. Make sure she is making contact with the two large knuckles (the two small ones are more likely to get injured). Check her thumb position. After she develops the muscle memory let her increase her speed, gradually.

Does she have long fingernails? If so, she has to do a modified fist. She won't be able to roll her fingertips into her palm. She'll have to just fold her fingers over with her finger prints flat on her palm and her thumb over them.

Have her punch a target that isn't as hard on the hands as a heavy bag. You can buy a hand pad; there are many designs to choose from. When she is ready for a firmer target try wrapping an old phone book with duct tape and use that as a target.

My concern about young kids hitting a heavy bag hard is that this is supposed to toughen (harden) the bones; conditioning for heavy contact. I've heard that when a child does exercises that harded bones (weight lifting included) that is stunts the growth of bone, results in the stunting of the child's growth.

If you are still concerned about possible injury, have her try something like Tai Chi or dance instead of a contact MA

BTW, I have a 12 yo daughter who has been doing WTF TKD since she was 4 and has never been injured. She also plays drums and guitar. See http://www.livaudaisnet.com/kids/shan.htm

[TSDforChrist]

Here's a couple of thoughts for you (I have been in Tang Soo Do since I was seven, and also worked as a professional musician):

The thing about the "heavy" bag, and the Century Wavemaster or similar models are not that heavy, is to develop power. The scrape on her foot should have been noticed, and smaller equipmet should probably be provided - but there is a huge difference between those watercore bags and solid objects, or conditioning posts. Even at such an early age, she should have no bone or joint trouble from hitting it. Kicks' comments about practicing slow punches, etc. at home are a wonderful idea. In defense of the instructor, it is not as glaring a mistake to have your thumb improperly held when striking something as it is in the air. I'm not saying he shouldn't have noticed it, but I can understand how he did not. If you are really concerned about her hands, Century also makes some decent bag gloves - but get the ones with separate fingers, thumb, and a palm bar. It will help with fist formation, and prevent wrist injury when striking a bag (or individual!). Your daughter is probably fine, but it is good that you have these concerns. Speak with the instructor about her size and kick height as it relates to the (relatively) large base on that bag, and help her with her punches. Coincidentally, most martial arts increase manual dexterity and coordination, and thus will indirectly aid her in playing the piano (my wife has noticed that piano comes easier to her since I've started teaching her TSD).

In Christ,

Master Phil Stewart

4th Dan Tang Soo Do

[jarrettmeyer]

From my experience, your child should be okay. I studied classical piano and TKD at the same time for 8 years with no problems at all.

Ted

I have had problems with piano velocity and sore wrists from hitting bags. That was a technique problem, not a karate problem. Once I fixed that, and gave my wrists some time to heal, my technique came back.

-jm

[PrideampPoise]

The only thing the really sends up any kind of warning flag to me is if she has trouble kicking above the plastic base. They should not have her kicking that bag until that's no longer a problem.

Other than that, she just needs to practice. In a group setting, an instructor can't catch it every time a student repeats a mistake. You said your daughter practices at home, which is great. Just have her take 5 or 10 minutes of her practice time and really concentrate on the form of her punches. Proper fist and proper wrist alignment. She can do "air" punches, and also very slow punches into any object. Just so she can get a feel of what the good alignment feels like, and the contact point on her fingers.

But to answer the original question, I don't think there is a compatibility problem. Sure, she could hurt hand someday, but she can also hurt it on a playground, playing volleyball, or in a car door. I don't think she should drop something she enjoys doing out of fear of an injury, especially at 9.

[tsdshep]

simple anser the bag wiil teach your daughter too hit right.she will on her oun get tired of hurt hands and feet and figure out too tuck her thumb and bend her toes back.Untill thean you can get hand raps thear not a glove just a rap.Also getting your kicks up are common too learn for beginners.I cant see the bag hurting her more than a scrape and bruse so hopefully she not hurt worse than that.also i like the idea for kids doing bag and pad woork at and early age .It teaches theam good tecniqe and devlops power at and early age.

[TSDforChrist]

Forgive me for saying this, but the idea that a child should learn proper technique by experiencing pain or associating pain with improper technique is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. Not only is such an idea unsafe, it is especially so for a child. Technique should be learned through positive reinforcement, and one should never assume that an individual will "figure it out on their own because they are tired of hurt hands" - that's what the instructor is there for, and that is the basis of instruction: demonstration and coaching of proper technique, as well as assisting students to avoid injury.

Master Phil Stewart

4th Dan Tang Soo Do