Age you let students begin...

[NewEnglands_KyoSa]

that's very good reasoning AikiGuy. I think that age is suitable as well.

[bushido_man96]

that's very good reasoning AikiGuy. I think that age is suitable as well.

I agree. I often wonder to myself that if I were ever to open my own school again, at what age I would take kids. I think that closer to 6 or 7 would be the way to go. My son is 2 now, and I have tried to just play with a few things with him; basic things like making a fist, sitting in a deep stance, and he can do a front kick (sort of ). I know that things can change a lot in a few years, though, but I just don't know if he will be ready for a TKD class at the age of 4. My true hope is that I can get him interested in kids Wrestling in a few years, and get him started with that.

[ninjanurse]

We have a program for 4-6 year olds that teaches the regular white belt curriculum over 18-24 months rather than the usual 4 months. While we do play a lot of "games", they are all based on martial arts skills and teach them to follow directions, learn body awareness and balance, stress etiquette, etc. We do kicking, punching, and forms...and award belts for their accomplishments. When they are ready they transition into the Junior program which includes ages 7-12. I do not baby-sit and expect students to conform to the rules regardless of age using positive feedback and reality discipline, i.e., if you want to participate in dodge ball after class you need to raise your hand before you talk or keep your hands to yourself in line, etc. Very rarely do I have a student sit out and if I do it is only for one or two repetitions of a drill.