Good style for a 5 year old?

[guird]

If I were you I'd simply let him try out every dojo/dojang/gym, etc. within a reasonable distance which allows young children to train and see which one he likes best. maybe have him try out two new ones a week, and you'll have a very informed decision soon.

If he's acrobatic, capoeira may be a nice one to consider as well, it'll fit realky well with his gymnastics, and will probably make him a superstar at school thanks to the impressiveness and musicality of the style. I definitely think he'll thank you for that.

if he wants to compete, sport karate and sport taekwondo are good options. judo may be a little dangerous at such a young age, though the breakfalls may save his life someday (I know a few stories of people who studied judo as a child and survived a fall thanks to it).

[Joppe]

My daughter is 5 and she has been doing bjj for the last 6 months.

She loves it.

[sensei8]

My daughter is 5 and she has been doing bjj for the last 6 months.

She loves it.

First of all, Welcome to KF!! That's good to hear that she's loving it!!

[bushido_man96]

Really, I think the main thing in finding a school for a 5 year old is looking into the kind of curriculum they teach, if it is structured for the way kids learn, and if they have fun. It really shouldn't be about rank, but about learning different movement principles, coordination, respect, courtesy, and things like that. If the instructors are sound, and the classes fun, just about any style would fit.

I started my 6 year old in Wrestling, and I don't regret it.

[Safroot]

The teacher is more important than the style for this age group.

Totally agree

[sensei8]

5 years old?! At that age, they're playing the MA, so, let them play because playing is also learning/teaching. I play with my students that are 5 years old, but we play karate.

Let them play!! Who's it hurting? No one!!

[Joppe]

The teacher is more important than anything else.

As mentioned above, my daughter started training BJJ last year (she is 5 years old) and the trainer was great in teaching skills in a fun way.

A lot of fun games involving transitions and take downs. The kids viewed it as fun games, and learned things in a fun way.

Now they have a new teacher. No more fun games of 'how fast can you go from full mount to sidecontrol' or 'catch the snake' (the arm is a snake and catching it is done with an armbar).

Now it's all about rare naked chokes, triangles and a much more combative approach to the training. Everything is very serious.

Needless to say, my 5 year old daughter is not feeling secure about it and the happiness in training is falling pretty quickly.

[SteyrAUG]

The teacher is more important than the style for this age group.

Yep.

Just make sure wherever he goes the basics are correct so he doesn't develop life long bad habits. At his age it should be an enjoyable "activity" where he is allowed to progress at his own speed (unlike most team sports).

Should also be close by and affordable so it doesn't ever become a burden. And ideally it should be right next to an excellent pizzeria.

[bushido_man96]

5 years old?! At that age, they're playing the MA, so, let them play because playing is also learning/teaching. I play with my students that are 5 years old, but we play karate.

Let them play!! Who's it hurting? No one!!

I agree with you here, Bob. Children at that age learn through play, and that's what the approach to the classes at that age should be. A strict, regimented type of class won't have many kids left in it. There should still be some discipline, for sure, but its going to be a different atmosphere than that typical MA class.

[Canadian77]

Watching my four-year-old son in a proper karate class I have to say that it CAN work well. But I agree that instructors make a big difference. My little guy is able to learn important safety things at this age and apply them - - he won't do his knee strike in self-defense practice unless his partner has his hands ready, for example. He knows where he is and isn't allowed to punch in sparring. I know that kids are different, but some of them can handle a little serious, especially in safety issues. However, his senseis find lots of ways to make it fun as well, making warm-ups into games, giving fun encouragements ("Do a superhero punch!"), bringing some energy, and so many other ways. He is really learning some self-control and improving technique while having a great time.