children & weapons

[spongebob]

My kids were eager to learn weapons (9yrs orange belts). They were playing in the backyard with garden sticks, so I decided to go down to the local martial arts supply store and buy them some crackle bos and a video. I figured if they are this enthusiastic they might as well learn proper technique. The next day we went to a weapons class at the karate club and I was stunned when I was told that it was against the rules for anyone under a blue stripe belt to learn weapons. They refused to teach weapons until the blue stripe level because they felt that more coordination was needed and more basics had to be taught first. I thought this was totally ridiculous!! I told my kids that they can learn anything they want to in life whether it's karate or computers or math etc., as long as they have the desire or will power to learn and as long as they practice hard. We are now going to a different karate club that will teach weapons to anyone who is willing to learn regardless of age or belt rank. They now know a kata and are doing great. I'd like to hear from other parents who have children in karate, their experiences, how to keep kids interested and their views on children learning weapons. I don't see anything wrong with it because they learn to respect the weapon and understand that it can seriously injure people. But some parents can't understand why I encourage it.

[LeaF]

To be honest I agree with the club that wouldn't teach them until they got a blue strip. The use of weapons takes much more control then alot of people think. When someone reaches a certain level (in this case a blue strip) that is the level the sensei believes the person will have gained the control and maturity required to handle weapons. I find in todays society people do not want to wait , have patience. OUr society is filled with things that give is instant gratification (ie television) that it would sound obserd to many people to actually have to wait for something they want.

I told my kids that they can learn anything they want to in life whether it's karate or computers or math etc., as long as they have the desire or will power to learn and as long as they practice hard.

 

This satement is true enough except you have made exceptions to you "rule". They can still learn weapons if they are willing to work hard enough in karate to earn the blue stripe and have the desire to succeed in what they do.

 

Frankly I believe that any dojo that will just let any 9 year old off the street train in weapons is either despirate for money or well I can't think of any other reason. I assist in young childrens classes and I tell some children are just way to immature, they cause alot of problems and miss bahave constantly (fortunatly for them karate builds character and maturity in the participates and my sensei is straightening them out) Now could you even concieve the chaos of an entire class of the children armed with weapons....Oh my God that would be an assistant worst nightmere.

 

Altough I am not a parent I began karate at a young age and I do remember times where I lost interest but my parents made me stick it out and then at the ae of 11 or 12 my interest really picked up and I was really thankful my parents made me stick it out. If you are actively involved in your childrens training whether you train with them (which I think is the best way to keep their interest)or just show up to watch them I think they should be fine. All I can suggest in done let them quit when it gets hard force them to stick it out no matter what and they will thank you some day it worked for me

 

Now I support your encouraging your children in the weaponed arts. There are many mental as well as physical element that they will learned. Remember the martial arts teach you how to avoid fights not how to start them!

Edited August 6, 2002 by LeaF

[Athorn4941]

It depends on the martial art that they take to learn or the instructor. In my opinion its better to learn weapons first and regular combat last. Some martial arts take this view to others don't. Go to other places to see and if not they just got to work to that blue stripe. I was family taught thats the way I was taught so does that mean my mom wanted money no.oh well thats my opinion.

[LeaF]

ok point taken....I thought that was a little harsh but I used it to stress the point that I personally see absolutly no advantage to taking weapons before oepn handed arts. Now you being home taught is completely different...have you ever been in a karate class full of 6 year old?(yes I know your son is 9)

[Athorn4941]

sorry if you got the wrong idea i have a hard time expressing myself. yeah i can see your point now in this day and age (not that im old 22). Yeah look at the personality of your kids to make that desicion too. you dont want your kids to use this on someone.

[Tobias_Reece]

I've always said that it depends on the student itself and that we should not really generalise.

 

I tach Matayoshi Okinawan Kobudo, and I get a lot of kids come up to me and ask if they can start swinging the nunchaku about because it looks cool, then slice some people with those sickle thingies (yes, I know they are called kama, but the kids often don't.)

 

Then there are the kids who come up to me and ask if they can train in kobudo (one point), tell me that the bo looks hard to use (two points) and ask me what the sai were originally used for (three points).

 

You see the difference?

[LeaF]

I understand what you are saying but that can put the sensei in a very difficult situation. You see without generalizations and standards my problems can arrise. Say you let kid A join kobudo...when he goes back to karate class and tells all his friends and they start asking but they are obviously way too immature what do you do. Or even worse he tells his friends what he said to join kobudo and suddenly you got 20 little kids asking what the sai were oringinally used for. Exceptions can be made but I do not think it is a good idea for them to be made too often and/or with merit.

[Tobias_Reece]

Fair point, but I think I may have mislead you.

 

When I say kid, I do not mean 6 year olds - my 'kids' range from 10-16 (pretty strange clasification).

 

What we also do is sometimes hold 'bo intros'. Basically, this shows kids how hard the stafff is to use, and that its more than just swinging around a piece of wood.

 

Oh, and for the record, I hardly have any kids asking about weapons - they come to the class instead and try it out. Then they realise they dont like it.

[benedictbm]

Okay, I am not a parent(nowhere near one either) but we have what we call Blackbelt Club at our Dojo. You have to be Green Belt(4 out of 10 belts) and be selected by our rinstructors to be in this "club. It is a class. We learn bo and chuck techniques until purple belt then we add the kama. I thought I would just say that even though I am not a parent.

[rabid hamster]

I think it's good that they don't teach weapons until a certain level so the students can focus on other stuff in the beginning. i don't think people should learn weapons until their at least 12.. just in case they get injured, but of course this depends on the person too. just my two cents<---what is that suppose to mean anyway?